Pennsylvania is experiencing a sharp rise in measles cases, recording 424 infections—including 94 in a single recent seven-week period—prompting a public dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Measles Outbreak Sparks Clash Between Governor Shapiro and RFK Jr.
The state recorded its first two measles-associated deaths in 35 years, both involving unvaccinated individuals in Lancaster County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Lancaster County has become the epicenter of the outbreak, reporting 197 infections. By comparison, Pennsylvania recorded 16 total measles cases in 2025 and just 6 cases in 2024, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
State Officials and Federal Leadership Clash Over Fatalities
Minutes before a Tuesday news conference announcing the fatalities, Shapiro engaged in a heated phone call with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. During the briefing, Shapiro accused the federal health official of sowing confusion about vaccines and contributing to the resurgence of a disease that was eliminated in the United States more than a quarter-century ago. Shapiro added that he informed Kennedy the state did not want additional federal assistance.
There's real-life consequences to scaring people and not relying on actual doctors and actual medical professionals to provide unbiased information,
Shapiro said regarding the rising infection numbers and falling vaccination rates.
Kennedy fired back on social media, accusing the governor of fearmongering and weaponizing infectious disease for political gain. Kennedy questioned whether the fatalities actually occurred, suggesting the deaths might have been altogether fabricated by one of the governor's hopeful staffers
and noting that the Lancaster County coroner initially had no record of the measles-related deaths. Kennedy also claimed that Pennsylvania was refusing to share information with the county health department or the CDC.
Verifying the Lancaster County Deaths
In response to the federal pushback, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen defended the state’s reporting. Bogen stated that she thoroughly reviewed the case investigations and confirmed the two recent measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, which were reported to the CDC’s measles response team early Tuesday morning.
State health officials explained that measles-associated
deaths occur when lab testing or epidemiological evidence of measles is present, even if the disease is not immediately certified as the direct cause of death. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health noted that the Lancaster County coroner is reviewing one of the deaths involving an infant who tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease physician in New York City, noted that calling a fatality a measles-associated death indicates that the outcome could very well have been caused by the virus, especially given that public health authorities navigate privacy rules carefully when dealing with sensitive case details.
Vaccination Rates and Public Health Concerns
State health data shows that none of the measles cases in Pennsylvania have occurred among fully vaccinated individuals. However, CDC figures indicate that 92.7% of Pennsylvania kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine before the 2025-26 school year, marking a decline from 95.5% a decade earlier. Public health experts emphasize that community immunity generally requires vaccination rates above 95%.
Medical professionals warn that lower vaccination coverage endangers vulnerable populations, including infants who are too young to be vaccinated, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. While some individuals choose to forgo vaccination for religious reasons, health officials continue to stress that the MMR vaccine remains the safest and most effective protection against the disease.