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Pennsylvania confirms sixth measles-associated death as cases hit 1,467
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Wednesday an unvaccinated Jefferson County resident died after testing positive for measles, the state's sixth confirmed measles-associated death in 2026.
- New headline Was: “Pennsylvania reports sixth measles-linked death as cases rise”
- Our desk filed its story
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Wednesday that an unvaccinated Jefferson County resident who tested positive for measles has died, the state's sixth confirmed measles-associated death in 20262. Reuters, citing the same health department figures, reported 1,467 confirmed cases in the state as of Nov. 4, including 283 hospitalizations1,2.
DOH said it reported the death to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and added it to the state's measles dashboard2. The department said it would not release further identifying details, citing privacy and the family's right to mourn privately2.
State figures listed 34 newly confirmed cases since a Nov. 2 update, cases in 45 counties, and five measles infections among vaccinated people, less than 1 percent of the total2. Confirmed deaths involved residents of Jefferson County (two), Lancaster County (three) and Mifflin County (one)2.
DOH said it is aware of a reported death of a Franklin County resident in October but that, as of Nov. 4, its investigation had not found a Franklin County case meeting its measles-associated death definition2. That definition requires death within 30 days of symptom onset in a person with clinical measles and a positive laboratory test, and excludes unrelated causes2.
Reuters said Pennsylvania has accounted for a substantial share of U.S. measles infections this year1. It cited CDC data showing 4,852 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of Oct. 291. The wire service said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment1.
Reuters reported that CDC has recorded three measles-related deaths this year without naming the states, after a change under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to use National Center for Health Statistics mortality data rather than state health department tallies1. Reuters also said a Pan American Health Organization expert commission is expected to decide next week whether the United States still meets measles-elimination criteria held since 20001.
DOH said more than 61,000 measles, mumps and rubella vaccine doses were administered statewide in October, more than double a typical month of about 25,000, and that department nurses have given more than 10,900 MMR doses at pop-up clinics and state health centers in 20262. It said two MMR doses provide about 97 percent lifetime protection and recommended an extra early dose for infants 6 through 11 months in or traveling to counties with sustained community transmission, which does not replace the two routine doses2.
DOH described measles as a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20 percent of people it has identified with measles hospitalized2. Reuters similarly described fever, cough, rash and possible pneumonia or encephalitis1.
Not medical advice.
