Two unvaccinated people die of measles in Pennsylvania outbreak, health officials say

They are the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year.

Two unvaccinated people have died of measles in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, the state’s health department confirmed Tuesday.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen declined to give any additional information about the deaths during a media briefing, citing patient confidentiality.

They are the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year and the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years.

Lancaster County has seen the majority of measles cases in the state’s growing outbreak. As of Tuesday, 393 cases have been confirmed in the state; 86 of them were diagnosed in the past week.

So far, 70 people have been hospitalized in Pennsylvania for measles complications.