Pennsylvania measles horror explodes past 1,350 cases; 5 dead, with amish country at outbreak center

Lancaster County outbreak grows

State health figures put Pennsylvania’s measles total above 1,350 this year. The state also recorded five measles-associated deaths: three in Lancaster County and two elsewhere. Lancaster County has the largest Amish population in the United States. The outbreak there is described as the country’s worst in 35 years, and community leaders believe reported cases understate the true scale because some sick people never visit a doctor.

Vaccination views differ

Vaccination rates and opinions vary across Plain communities, and not all Amish or Mennonite people reject vaccines. Community leaders and scholars say attitudes have shifted over time, with distrust increasing after strict COVID-19 public health measures. Allen Hoover, an Old Order Mennonite and former administrator at the Parochial Medical Center in New Holland, said many people miss vaccinations out of habit rather than opposition. He described the reasoning as, “We never did before, and we came through all right.”

Falling rates raise concern

Measles can spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and through contaminated surfaces. Its spread becomes more likely as vaccination coverage falls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 92.4% of U.S. kindergarteners received required MMR shots in 2025-26, below the 95% level that makes outbreaks extremely unlikely in a community. Berwood Yost of Franklin & Marshall College said kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen since 2020 in every central Pennsylvania county.

Officials urge vaccination

Plain communities interact with the wider public at places including farmers’ markets and doctors’ offices, so they are not isolated from others. The current outbreak follows one in 2025 among Mennonite populations in Texas and elsewhere.

Dr. Anne-Marie Derrico, chief medical officer at Union Community Care, said COVID vaccine debates fueled distrust and conspiracy theories. Lancaster County Commissioner Alice Yoder said officials should emphasize that the measles vaccine is safe and effective and encourage people to receive it.