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The first U.S. deaths related to measles in 2026 have been reported in Pennsylvania, health officials said.
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The two deaths are the first measles-related fatalities in that state in 35 years, according to CNN.
“People are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness.” Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, said in a Tuesday news release on the deaths.
Neither of the two people who died were vaccinated against the disease, normally considered a childhood illness.
As of August, there have been 58 confirmed cases of measles in California, compared to 25 in all of 2025, the California Department of Public Health said. No deaths in California have been reported.
Here’s what to know about measles:
What is measles? Where are outbreaks in the U.S.?
Measles is a “highly contagious” virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disease can cause “serious health complications,” especially in children younger than 5 years old, the federal public health agency said.
Complications due to measles can include pneumonia, “brain swelling, even blindness and death,” Chin-Hong said.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, the CDC said, meaning that the continuous spread of the disease was stopped for longer than 12 months.
Why are measles cases increasing?
About 90% of unvaccinated people who come in contact with measles will get sick with the disease, the California Department of Public Health said.
The highly contagious virus can live airborne in a room for up to two hours, the agency said, and it only requires a small amount of particles to infect someone.
Measles rates are primarily rising due to high rates of the disease in other parts of the world paired with falling vaccination rates in the United States.
Cuts to public health funding have also contributed to the spread, he added, along with a wave of fake conspiracy theories that mislead people about the importance of getting vaccinated.
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Disease expert predicts more cases, hospitalizations and deaths
Many public health officials suspected the United States will lose its measles elimination status by the end of 2025. It hasn’t yet, but 2026’s outbreaks may do so.
That would mean there are sustained measles transmission in local communities for more than 12 months, he said, without the disease being introduced from outside the country.
What are common measles symptoms?
Measles cases typically start with a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, according to the CDC.
After a few days of symptoms, tiny white spots pop up inside the mouth, the public health agency said, followed by a rash of small red spots that appear on the face and then the rest of the body.
Symptoms typically appear about seven to 14 days after being exposed to the virus, the national public health agency said.
Here are some of the most common measles symptoms, according to the CDC:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash
Complications from measles usually include ear infections and diarrhea, while more serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.
“Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days,” the CDC warned. “But measles can cause serious health complications.”
Who is most at risk of measles?
“Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk” of getting sick, according to the CDC.
What’s the best way to protect against the virus?
“The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine,” the CDC said.
The federal health agency said the two-dose vaccine is safe and about 97% effective at preventing measles.
Children can be vaccinated against measles as early as 6 months.
The CDC recommends that children get one dose between ages 12 to 15 months, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old.
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