The U.S. measles death toll reached three in 2026, federal health officials said, while Pennsylvania separately counted five associated deaths under criteria that differ from the national tally.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 4,410 confirmed cases nationwide as of Oct. 15. It said 96% of those cases were associated with outbreaks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,286 cases across 42 counties, 247 hospitalizations and five confirmed measles-associated deaths as of Oct. 19. The state was investigating another reported death.
Pennsylvania’s definition requires clinical evidence of measles and a positive laboratory test, a death within 30 days of symptoms beginning, and no unrelated cause of death.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Reuters that the National Center for Health Statistics reviewed a newly reported measles-related death and determined that measles was the underlying cause. The CDC says its national toll may change as reviews continue. It is developing a standard definition for measles deaths with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. The CDC has documented falling measles, mumps and rubella vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners, from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025-2026. It says two vaccine doses are 97% effective at preventing measles.
Pennsylvania said a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer joined its response Oct. 19 to help model the outbreak and analyze vaccination efforts. The CDC’s next case update follows its Thursday reporting cycle.
