Fourth Person Dies in Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak

Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed the state’s fourth measles-associated death. The latest victim was an unvaccinated 18-year-old male from Mifflin County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The health department also confirmed a second recent death involving an unvaccinated 40-year-old Jefferson County resident. The state had previously reported two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County. Both victims were infants—a newborn boy and a 6-week-old girl—who were too young to receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Mifflin County Coroner Andrea L. Alcalde said the 18-year-old died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare but serious complication of measles. ADEM is a rapidly progressing autoimmune condition in which inflammation caused by an infection damages the protective membranes surrounding nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Before measles vaccines became widely available, ADEM was commonly associated with measles, although other viral infections can also trigger the condition.

In a news release posted Tuesday on the coroner’s Facebook page, Alcalde said the cause of death was determined after reviewing medical records and all available information. No additional information about the deceased was released.

The state health department said the two deaths will be added to Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak data dashboard on Wednesday as part of its regular update.

Pennsylvania measles outbreak reaches 693 cases

According to the state’s latest report, Pennsylvania has recorded 693 measles cases across 38 counties this year. The state reported 99 new cases over the past seven days, and 133 people have been hospitalized.

“As Pennsylvania faces its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years, our thoughts are with the two families who lost loved ones to this highly contagious virus,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen said in a statement. “We are committed to continuing to work with our partners across Pennsylvania to stop this outbreak and prevent further deaths. That means making sure people know the facts about measles and have access to MMR vaccines.”

MMR vaccination helped prevent measles outbreaks for decades, according to the health department.