Kathmandu— The US state of Pennsylvania has reported two deaths due to measles, marking the first fatal cases of the disease in the country this year. The deceased were both unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which cited privacy concerns when declining to provide further details. This outbreak occurs as the nation experiences a surge in measles cases linked to decreasing vaccination rates and growing anti-vaccination sentiment.

Declining Vaccination Rates Fuel Outbreak

Experts are warning that falling vaccination levels have created conditions for the resurgence of diseases like measles, which had been largely eradicated in the United States. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen noted that because measles was eliminated in the state for over three decades, many residents may not be familiar with the disease or its potential severity. The US is currently facing its most significant measles outbreak in years, with at least 2,777 confirmed cases recorded nationwide this year.

Pennsylvania Hard Hit by Measles

Pennsylvania has been particularly affected by the current outbreak, reporting 393 measles cases across 28 counties. The state’s recent fatalities underscore the dangers of declining immunity and highlight the vulnerability of unvaccinated populations to preventable diseases. Last year, a measles outbreak in West Texas spread to New Mexico resulting in three deaths.

Political Factors Complicate Public Health Efforts

The decrease in vaccination rates has been partly attributed to an anti-vaccination movement, which includes figures within the Trump administration. US President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order calling for a reduction in the number of recommended vaccines for children, furthering efforts to reverse decades of scientific consensus on vaccine safety and efficacy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has also promoted debunked claims linking vaccinations to autism and contributed to the purging of government health panels responsible for vaccine policy recommendations. Dr Angela Dunn, former Utah state epidemiologist, expressed concern that outbreaks in Texas, South Carolina, and Utah should have served as warnings.

Health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination as a critical public health measure to prevent the spread of measles and protect vulnerable populations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.