Two unvaccinated people have died of measles in Pennsylvania, officials confirmed, amid a nationwide resurgence linked to declining vaccination rates.
Key facts
- Two unvaccinated people died of measles in Pennsylvania, officials confirmed.
- US measles cases have reached their highest point since the virus was eliminated, according to the BBC.
- Experts warn declining vaccination rates have opened the door for the disease's resurgence, according to Al Jazeera.
Officials in Pennsylvania have confirmed that two unvaccinated people have died of measles, marking a stark development in a disease that was once largely eradicated in the United States.
The deaths come as measles cases across the US have climbed to their highest level since the virus was declared eliminated, according to the BBC. The outlet linked the rise to declining vaccination rates.
Experts cited by Al Jazeera warned that falling immunization coverage has opened the door for a resurgence of a disease that had, for years, been kept largely under control.
Part of the challenge, health officials suggest, is a lack of public awareness about how serious measles can be. As noted in reporting by Ars Technica, “[P]eople are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity.”
The confirmed deaths in Pennsylvania underscore the potential consequences of the ongoing outbreak, particularly for those who are unvaccinated. Health authorities have pointed to the connection between immunization rates and the spread of the virus.
The developments in Pennsylvania fit a broader national pattern described by multiple outlets, in which reduced vaccine uptake has coincided with a return of a disease that public health efforts had previously suppressed.
Why it matters
Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, and confirmed deaths signal how far the disease has re-emerged. Experts tie the resurgence to falling vaccination rates, making the deaths a warning sign for communities where immunization coverage has dropped.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died of measles in Pennsylvania?
Two unvaccinated people died of measles in Pennsylvania, according to officials confirmed in reporting by the BBC, Al Jazeera and Ars Technica.
Why are measles cases rising in the US?
According to the BBC and Al Jazeera, US measles cases have reached their highest point since the virus was eliminated, with experts attributing the resurgence to declining vaccination rates.
Were the people who died vaccinated?
No. Officials confirmed that both people who died were unvaccinated.