A six-week-old infant in Lancaster County has died from measles, according to the county coroner, as the Pennsylvania measles outbreak continues to expand across the state.
Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni said the child contracted measles and that the infection caused the death. The infant died at home on August 18 after receiving palliative care shortly after birth.
The child also had Amish lethal microcephaly, a rare genetic condition associated with a significantly shortened life expectancy. Despite the underlying condition, the coroner determined that measles was responsible for the infant’s death.
Cases Continue to Rise Across Pennsylvania
The latest state health department figures show that 577 measles cases have now been confirmed across 37 Pennsylvania counties. The state recorded 80 additional cases between August 31 and September 4, while 98 people have required hospitalization.
Pennsylvania health officials are also reporting two measles-associated deaths during the current outbreak. The fatalities are the first measles-related deaths reported in the state in 35 years.
The growing Pennsylvania measles outbreak comes as infections increase nationally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,134 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of September 3, making 2026 the highest annual total in more than three decades.
Disagreement Over How Deaths Are Classified
The Pennsylvania deaths have also become part of a dispute between state and federal health officials.
Pennsylvania continues to classify two deaths as measles-associated. Federal health officials have questioned whether measles directly caused both deaths and have reviewed the information behind the classifications.
The latest finding from the Lancaster County coroner provides a clearer determination regarding the six-week-old infant, who he said died because of measles.
Vaccination Remains the Main Protection
Health officials continue to emphasize vaccination as the strongest protection against measles. The Pennsylvania Department of Health says the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the disease.
Since the Pennsylvania measles outbreak began in late April, state officials have administered more than 3,900 MMR doses through more than 100 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected communities.
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People can also become infected simply by being in a space where someone with measles has recently been.
Health Officials Continue Outbreak Response
The expanding Pennsylvania measles outbreak highlights the risks created when vaccination coverage falls in local communities. Although measles was declared eliminated from sustained transmission in the United States in 2000, imported infections can spread rapidly among people who are not protected.
With cases continuing to climb, health authorities are urging residents to check their vaccination status and seek medical guidance if they may have been exposed to the virus.
