A 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania has died of complications from measles, according to the county’s coroner. It marks the third measles-linked death in Pennsylvania this year. Pennsylvania is experiencing an outbreak that has caused 676 cases and 124 hospitalizations across 37 counties. Prior to these deaths, Pennsylvania had not reported a measles death in 35 years.
In a news release dated September 12, Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong said that the death of the woman was a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. The county’s chief deputy coroner, Jason Stiver, added that this tragedy highlights that measles should not be taken lightly.
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Stiver stated that many people associate measles with a childhood illness, but it can lead to severe complications in individuals of any age, adding that measles is highly contagious and can result in serious respiratory illness, hospitalization, and in rare cases like this, death.
While the news release stated that no additional information about the case would be provided, the New York Times obtained a preliminary death certificate. It indicated the woman had several chronic medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and she required supplemental oxygen at all times. Her health status made her vulnerable to complications from measles.
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The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office in Pennsylvania confirmed the first measles-related death in the county on Saturday. State health officials previously reported two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County. On August 25, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, the state’s first in 35 years. Later that day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended condolences to the families and said it was working closely with the state.
The next day, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested on X that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the Governor’s hopeful staffers, and called the announcement a replay of the Democrats’ COVID playbook. The day after that, the same CDC account thanked him for his efforts to clarify conflicting information from Pennsylvania officials. Its statement invoked COVID-19 directly, recalling concerns that deaths had been attributed to the disease when people had died of other causes.
Pennsylvania woman dies of measles-related complications, Jefferson County Coroner
No finding had established that the Pennsylvania’s classification was wrong. What changed was that the county coroner disputed one case in the press, Kennedy called both possibly fabricated, and CDC publicly thanked him. On August 30, the agency published its weekly measles update late, on a Sunday, with an asterisk in place of the two deaths, explaining that available information did not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other causes while infected with measles. The Washington Post and CNN reported that the decision came from the new CDC director, Erica Schwartz, MD, MPH, JD, who was sworn in last month. States investigate outbreak deaths and the CDC compiles them.
Coroner GregFurlong stated that their thoughts and prayers were with the family during that difficult time and asked that the public and media respect their privacy as they mourned the loss of their loved one.
Jason Stiver stated that they encourage residents to stay informed, follow guidance from public health officials, and take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their families, adding that preventing the spread of measles remains a public health priority in the county. Jefferson County is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health in relation to the case.
