Fourth Measles-Linked Death in Pennsylvania

A fourth death attributed to measles has been reported in Pennsylvania, according to the state health department on Tuesday. All four fatalities occurred within the past month as the measles outbreak continues to escalate. Notably, these are the first measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.

Last year, the entire United States recorded only three measles-related deaths.

As noted in a news release from the Pennsylvania health department, the latest victims were from Jefferson and Mifflin counties and were both unvaccinated. The coroner from Mifflin County indicated that an 18-year-old resident died due to “complications of measles,” specifically a rare but severe neurological disorder that leads to brain inflammation. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County, who had asthma and severe lung issues, died on Saturday.

In Lancaster County, two infants were among the fatalities: a newborn who died shortly after birth and a 6-week-old baby. The county coroner expressed the belief that measles was the cause of death for the 6-week-old, while in the case of the newborn, although there was evidence of the measles virus found in the lung tissue, the death was attributed mainly to an internal hemorrhage and “traumatic rupture” of the spleen.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is normally administered during the first year of life, which means neither infant was eligible to receive it. Generally, two doses provide about 97% protection against measles, typically lasting a lifetime, with the second dose given around age five.

The Pennsylvania health department defines a death as “measles associated” if there’s clinical proof of a measles infection, a positive lab test, and if the death occurred within 30 days of the onset of symptoms. Investigations consider medical records as well as prior exposure to measles.

The recent press release stated that these two new deaths were linked to measles after thorough investigations involving county coroners. Similar inquiries were conducted for the infant deaths as well.

This year, nearly 700 measles cases have been reported in Pennsylvania, with 133 individuals hospitalized. State authorities connect the outbreak to declining vaccination rates. Nationwide, as of September 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 3,294 measles cases, including 267 hospitalizations.

As of now, the CDC has not verified any measles-related deaths reported in Pennsylvania and has indicated that there are no death records since 2026 that list measles as the underlying cause. This appears to diverge significantly from how the CDC has historically recorded such deaths.

CDC Director Erica Schwartz pointed out that Pennsylvania had not sought assistance from the CDC, unlike other states experiencing measles outbreaks. Conversely, the Pennsylvania health department insists it has a strong collaborative relationship with CDC professionals and states it submits death records daily, including those pertinent to the recent measles-related deaths.

Last month, the deaths of the infants from Lancaster County led to a surge of misinformation online, along with political disputes involving Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shapiro accused Kennedy of spreading false information regarding vaccines, while Kennedy implied that the deaths might have been “fabricated,” suggesting that Shapiro was attempting to gain political advantage from the situation.

Opponents of vaccination often claim that testing positive for measles doesn’t necessarily equate to dying from the virus if another illness or injury is involved. However, medical professionals assert that measles is frequently the underlying cause in these cases since the patients likely would not have died otherwise.

The father of the newborn from Lancaster County shared with NBC News that the baby was born prematurely, and the mother had measles during her pregnancy. Measles is known to cause complications such as premature birth.

Additionally, measles can lead to splenic enlargement, increasing the risk of rupture. The coroner from Lancaster County did not observe any evidence of the newborn’s spleen being enlarged; however, such detail can be challenging to identify in an autopsy.