Pennsylvania records 5th measles-related death this year

Pennsylvania health officials reported a fifth measles-associated death Wednesday amid a rapidly growing outbreak — the worst outbreak the commonwealth has seen in more than 35 years. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said the person who died was unvaccinated and a resident of Lancaster County, but it did not release more information.  

Officials in a statement said the death “meets the measles-associated death definition” and has been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

There are now 943 measles cases in Pennsylvania, with about 40 percent concentrated in Lancaster County. According to official state figures, there have been at least 176 hospitalizations. All but four of the cases have been among people who were not fully vaccinated. 

The other deaths include an unvaccinated 18-year-old in Mifflin County, a 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County and two infants in Lancaster County.  

But the CDC has refused to acknowledge the same number of deaths as the Keystone State, sparking a bitter political dispute between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) — a potential 2028 presidential candidate — and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over what constitutes a measles death.  

The agency to date has only recognized two deaths. The CDC’s database also does not specify where or when these deaths occurred, so it’s not clear if the tally includes Pennsylvania’s reported cases. However, no other state has recorded a measles death this year. 

Pennsylvania is currently reporting the highest total number of measles cases in the U.S. 

Earlier this month, Pennsylvania’s health department started the process of requesting emergency assistance from the CDC’s Epi-Aid program, but only on the condition that the CDC publicly recognize the state’s death count. 

According to spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there are ongoing discussions and meetings between CDC staff and Pennsylvania officials about a potential focus for the Epi-Aid, but nothing has been finalized. 

There are at least 3,659 measles cases in the U.S., according to the CDC. The last time there were more than four measles deaths in a year was 1991. 

Last year, three people in the U.S. died from measles — two in Texas and one in New Mexico.