Health · Public Health & Disease · 5 hrs ago
Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania
A 39-year-old woman in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has been reported as the state’s sixth measles-related death in less than two months.
The woman was unvaccinated and had underlying medical conditions, the county coroner’s office said.
The coroner’s spokesperson said the probable cause was an acute cardiac event that may have resulted from measles complications.
Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,136 measles cases and 219 hospitalizations, with two-thirds of cases in adults.
The state says fewer than 1% of cases were in people who were fully vaccinated; two doses of the MMR vaccine offer about 97% protection against measles.
The state Health Department said it is reviewing the reported death.
The outbreak is the largest in Pennsylvania in three decades, and the six reported deaths suggest the number of infections may be higher than the confirmed count.
Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles-related death in less than two months, involving an unvaccinated 39-year-old woman in Franklin County.
The county coroner’s office said the probable primary cause was an acute cardiac event possibly linked to measles complications.
As of Friday, state officials had confirmed 1,136 cases across 41 counties, including 219 hospitalizations.
Dr. Paul Offit said the actual number of cases could be closer to 6,000, while the state is reviewing the reported death.
- Who
- A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County died.
- What
- Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles-related death. The coroner cited a probable acute cardiac event possibly due to measles complications.
- When
- The death was reported Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
- Why
- The coroner said the probable primary cause was an acute cardiac event due to possible measles complications. The woman had underlying medical conditions.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Dr. Paul Offit
Scale of outbreak
Pennsylvania Department of Health
The department reported 1,136 confirmed cases as of Friday and said it was reviewing the reported death.
Dr. Paul Offit
Offit said, I think we’re probably closer to 6,000 cases, and argued that cases were being vastly underestimated.
Pennsylvania announced the first two measles-related deaths, both infants in Lancaster County.
A 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County and an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident died after measles-related complications.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the fifth death, involving a 20-year-old woman with a compromised immune system.
Pennsylvania reported the sixth death, involving a 39-year-old woman in Franklin County.
- Age
- 39
- County
- Franklin County, Pennsylvania
- Confirmed cases
- 1,136 as of Friday
- Hospitalizations
- 219
- Vaccination status
- The woman was unvaccinated
- Reported deaths
- Six in less than two months
What people are saying
primary cause of death was a probable acute cardiac event due to possible complications of the measles.
I think we’re probably closer to 6,000 cases
They are vastly underestimating the number of cases. It’s much worse.
Sources
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