40-year-old Pennsylvania Woman Dies From Measles

A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman who lived in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, has died from measles complications, the county coroner confirmed Sunday. This marks the third measles death in the commonwealth. Two measles-associated deaths were reported in Lancaster County in August, the first linked to the virus in 35 years.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner and Public Relations Officer Jason Stiver emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding the disease. “Many people associate measles with a childhood illness, but it can lead to severe complications in individuals of any age,” Stiver said. “Measles is highly contagious and can result in serious respiratory illness, hospitalization, and in rare cases like this, death.

The Pennsylvania woman who died contracted measles after a family member had it as well,  Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong told CNN, and noted she also had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and asthma, and had been on supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day before getting measles.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed 676 measles cases as of Sept. 11 across 37 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026. The cases continue to mount, as 108 were added in the previous week. So far during this outbreak, 124 patients have been hospitalized with measles complications.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended by doctors as the best way to protect against measles, mumps and rubella, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) said. As CMM previously reported, the U.S. is experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991. As of Sept. 10, the CDC has confirmed 3,294 confirmed measles cases in 45 states and the District of Columbia.