A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, died Saturday from complications related to measles, marking the state’s third measles-associated death this year and occurring as the U.S. experiences its largest outbreak since 1991. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed 676 measles cases in 37 counties so far in 2026, with 124 hospitalizations. Health officials report fewer than 1% of confirmed cases involved fully vaccinated individuals. The Jefferson County Coroner, Greg Furlong, stated the woman was unvaccinated and that the death serves as a reminder of the disease’s potential severity. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reviewing the case, and the CDC has not yet been notified of the death, despite repeated offers of assistance from the agency. This lack of notification has prompted a dispute between state and federal health officials, with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioning the accuracy of the reported deaths. The CDC is currently reviewing two previously reported infant deaths in Lancaster County. Preliminary reports indicate the Jefferson County woman had underlying health conditions, including COPD and required supplemental oxygen, making her particularly vulnerable to complications. While Pennsylvania has not reported a measles death in 35 years, the outbreak is raising concerns about vaccination rates and public health response. No other states have reported measles deaths this year.
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