A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Pennsylvania passed away on Saturday, likely due to complications from measles, according to Jefferson County coroner Greg Furlong. This development is part of a rapidly expanding outbreak in the state, affecting over 670 people and leading to 124 hospitalizations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported two deaths related to this outbreak last month. These figures have sparked debates on whether the fatalities were directly caused by measles or were coincidental. In the case of the recently deceased woman, the immediate cause of death was respiratory failure due to suspected measles, as per a preliminary death certificate.
Furlong noted that tests are pending to confirm the presence of measles, even though the woman displayed symptoms associated with the virus, such as the characteristic rash. She had been exposed to someone with measles, and a nasal swab has been sent to the state laboratory for testing.
The woman had chronic medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and required continuous supplemental oxygen. These conditions increased her vulnerability to severe measles complications.
The state health department has not yet included her death in its official tally, but it is in close contact with the coroner. Although most measles cases remain mild, about one in five unvaccinated individuals with measles in the U.S. requires hospitalization, often due to complications like pneumonia, severe dehydration, and brain swelling. The virus poses a higher risk to young children, adults over 20, and those with compromised immune systems.
While measles deaths are rare in the United States, the virus’s resurgence has led to some fatalities recently. Last year, two school-aged children and one adult died from measles-related complications, marking the first such deaths in the country in a decade.
Teddy Rosenbluth reports on health news for The Times, focusing on medical misinformation.