Historic Measles Outbreak Hits Pennsylvania Amish Country, Sparking Vaccine Openness

A historic measles outbreak has struck Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home to the largest Amish population in the United States, with over 1,350 cases reported statewide in 2026, more than a third of which have been concentrated in Lancaster County itself ¹²³. This surge in measles cases has claimed three lives in the county, highlighting the severity of the situation ².

The outbreak has drawn attention to the typically lower vaccination rates among the Amish community, which contrasts sharply with the national average for U.S. kindergarteners, where the rate stood at 92.4% in the 2025-26 academic year, a decline from 95.2% in 2019-20 ². Despite these differences, interactions between Amish and non-Amish residents in Lancaster County are frequent, suggesting a potential for broader impact on the local health landscape ².

Approximately 45,000 Amish and 6,000 Old Order Mennonites call Lancaster County home, making the area a focal point for both cultural richness and public health concerns ². The measles outbreak serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of vaccination in protecting communities, especially those with lower immunization rates ²³.

What We Know

• - A significant measles outbreak has hit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ¹²³
• - Over 1,350 measles cases were reported in Pennsylvania in 2026, with more than a third in Lancaster County ²
• - Three measles-related deaths occurred in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ²
• - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has the largest Amish population in the U.S. ¹²
• - Vaccination rates among the Amish are generally lower compared to the general population ²³
• - Interactions between Amish and non-Amish people are common in Lancaster County ²
• - Approximately 45,000 Amish and 6,000 Old Order Mennonites reside in and around Lancaster County ²
• - The overall vaccination rate for U.S. kindergarteners in 2025-26 was 92.4%, down from 95.2% in 2019-20 ²