Baby among 2 unvaccinated measles deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Pennsylvania officials say an infant was among the two unvaccinated patients who died while infected with measles.

These are the first deaths related to measles within the state in 35 years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the first deaths reported this year in the U.S.

Both deadly cases were in Lancaster County, about an hour west of Philadelphia.

In late July, the number of confirmed measles cases in the U.S. surpassed the total reported for all of last year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last year’s total of 2,289 was the highest number of recorded measles cases in more than 30 years, CDC data shows. However, the 2,777 total marks the highest number of cases recorded since 1991.

There has been a public war of words between Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about whether these patients actually died of complications from measles or other causes.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says.