Home / Health / Measles Outbreak Claims Third Life in Pennsylvania
Measles Outbreak Claims Third Life in Pennsylvania
14 Sep
Summary
- A third death from measles has been confirmed in western Pennsylvania.
- The recent fatality was an unnamed 40-year-old woman.
- Measles can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death in any age group.
A recent measles outbreak in western Pennsylvania has resulted in a third confirmed death. The victim was an unnamed 40-year-old woman, underscoring that measles is not solely a childhood illness and can lead to severe outcomes in adults.
Health officials emphasized the highly contagious nature of measles, which can necessitate hospitalization and, in rare instances, prove fatal. The current outbreak spans 37 Pennsylvania counties, with significant concentrations in Lancaster and Mifflin counties.
This outbreak coincides with a national trend of declining vaccination rates for kindergarteners, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to recent CDC data. The disease hospitalizes approximately 20% of unvaccinated infected individuals.
