Pennsylvania faces its worst measles outbreak in 35 years

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Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak, centered in Lancaster County, is the nation’s worst in 35 years, and reporting says some Amish and Mennonite residents are showing greater openness to vaccination. State figures show more than 1,350 cases this year, with over a third in Lancaster County, home to the country’s largest Amish population. Community leaders say the total is likely an undercount because many people with measles never see a doctor. The state has recorded three measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County and two elsewhere. Vaccination levels and views vary across Amish and conservative Mennonite communities, though residents overall are less likely to be vaccinated than the general population, largely because of culture and habit rather than religious doctrine. Their regular contact with the wider public means the outbreak is not confined to those communities.