A Pennsylvania woman has died after a probable measles infection in what could become the third confirmed measles-associated death in the state this year. The woman was a 40-year-old resident of Jefferson County, a rural area roughly 70 miles northeast of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Monday that it was investigating the death and had not yet added it to the state’s confirmed measles death count.
Health officials in Pennsylvania have confirmed two deaths this year that were associated with measles, including a newborn and a six-week-old infant, according to The Guardian. The woman who died was unvaccinated and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, requiring constant oxygen support. She also had asthma and other health problems that made her especially vulnerable to respiratory complications.
The woman had declined measles testing while she was alive, according to Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong. A nasal swab taken after her death was sent for testing to determine whether she had measles. Furlong said she had developed a fever and rash after a known exposure to a person who tested positive for measles. He changed the description on her death certificate from suspected measles to probable measles after reviewing information about the exposure.
Public health officials have expressed concern over the continuing spread of the disease. They emphasized that maintaining a vaccination rate of at least ninety-five percent is crucial for protecting vulnerable individuals. Health officials hope the case will raise awareness and encourage people to follow public health guidance and get vaccinated.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. That designation did not mean the country would have no cases. Imported infections can still lead to outbreaks in communities where vaccination rates are too low. The CDC says community vaccination coverage above 95% helps protect people who cannot be vaccinated.
As of Friday, Pennsylvania had reported six hundred seventy-six confirmed measles cases. Officials believe that the actual number of infections is higher than what has been officially recorded. By Monday, the state total had increased to 693 confirmed cases in 38 counties. Pennsylvania also reported 133 hospitalizations. Only four confirmed cases were in people who were appropriately vaccinated for their age.
Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong reported the possible third measles-associated death on Sunday. Pennsylvania health officials said they were conducting a thorough review before deciding whether to include the woman in the state’s confirmed death total.
The two earlier deaths occurred in Lancaster County. Newborn Ivan Miller died from a ruptured spleen with measles listed as a contributing condition. Six-week-old Mary Stoltzfus had a rare genetic disorder that made her especially vulnerable to infection. Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni said measles caused her death. Neither infant was old enough to receive the routine first dose of the MMR vaccine.
Federal officials have questioned how the two earlier Pennsylvania deaths should be classified. The CDC's director was asked not to include those deaths in the official tally, according to reporting by Reuters. Reuters reported that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked CDC Director Erica Schwartz to remove the two deaths after questioning whether they met the federal criteria. The CDC currently says the National Center for Health Statistics has no 2026 death records listing measles as the underlying cause.
The CDC continues to recommend the MMR vaccine as the most effective method of preventing measles infection. Pennsylvania health officials also continue to describe vaccination as the best protection against the disease. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.