Pennsylvania reports fourth measles-linked death as outbreak continues
State health officials said four deaths this month have been linked to measles, including two unvaccinated adults and two infants, amid a statewide outbreak of nearly 700 cases.
Pennsylvania health officials confirmed a fourth death associated with measles, bringing the total to four in the past month as the state’s outbreak approaches 700 reported cases. The most recent fatalities occurred in Jefferson and Mifflin counties; both individuals were unvaccinated, the department said.
The Mifflin County coroner attributed the death of an 18-year-old to a rare, severe neurological condition that caused brain inflammation following measles infection. In Jefferson County, a 40-year-old woman with asthma and chronic lung disease died after contracting the virus.
Two infant deaths were recorded in Lancaster County. A 6-week-old baby was determined to have died solely from measles, while a newborn, who tested positive for the virus in lung tissue, was listed as having died from an internal hemorrhage and spleen rupture. Neither infant was eligible for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is first administered around age one.
The state defines a death as “measles-associated” when clinical evidence, laboratory confirmation, and a death within 30 days of symptom onset are present, while also considering medical history and exposure. The department said the latest deaths were linked to measles after thorough investigations with county coroners.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 3,294 measles cases and 267 hospitalizations this year. The CDC has not yet verified Pennsylvania’s death reports, a departure from its usual practice of accepting state data. CDC Director Erica Schwartz noted that Pennsylvania had not requested federal assistance for the outbreak.
State officials have linked the surge to declining vaccination rates. The incident has sparked misinformation online and political criticism, with Governor Josh Shapiro accusing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of spreading vaccine falsehoods, while Kennedy suggested the deaths might be politically motivated.