CDC Confirms First Measles Death in 2026 Amid Ongoing Pennsylvania Outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that it has verified one measles-related death for 2026, adding a note that the figure may change as more information becomes available. The agency did not specify the location or identity of the deceased, only that the National Center for Health Statistics confirmed measles as an underlying cause of death.

Pennsylvania health officials had previously reported four measles-associated deaths in the state, including two infants, a 40-year-old woman with chronic lung disease, and an 18-year-old who developed a rare neurological condition. A state spokesperson said the department could not determine which of those deaths the CDC’s update referred to.

The state defines a measles-associated death as one occurring within 30 days of symptom onset and a positive test, considering medical history and exposure. The CDC said it is collaborating with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to create a uniform case definition for measles deaths.

As of Wednesday, the CDC recorded 3,471 measles cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C., with more than 300 hospitalizations. Pennsylvania alone reported 835 cases, including 111 in the past week, and 164 hospitalizations, noting that two-thirds of cases involve adults. Health officials emphasized that nearly all diagnosed individuals are unvaccinated, and that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 97% lifelong protection, with booster doses available for infants as young as six months during outbreaks.