Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania outbreak

What Happened

Franklin County, Pennsylvania, reported a sixth measles-related death on Monday involving an unvaccinated 39-year-old woman with underlying medical conditions, according to the county coroner's office and multiple news reports.

A spokesperson for the coroner's office said the probable primary cause of death was an acute cardiac event due to possible complications of measles. The office did not publicly detail the woman's underlying conditions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said it was aware of the coroner's announcement and was conducting a thorough review of the reported death. Most news reports placed the announcement on Monday, Oct. 12, although a later newsletter published by The Hill described the sixth death as having been recorded Friday.

Pennsylvania defines a measles-associated death as one that occurs within 30 days of symptom onset and involves clinical evidence of measles and a positive laboratory test. The state also considers medical records and a person's exposure history, NBC News reported.

The Big Picture

The reported death comes during what multiple outlets have described as Pennsylvania's largest or worst measles outbreak in roughly three decades. As of Friday before the Franklin County announcement, the state had confirmed 1,136 measles cases and 219 hospitalizations, NBC News reported. The Guardian, citing state officials, reported 1,137 cases and 219 hospitalizations as of Monday.

By Thursday, Pennsylvania had at least 1,222 confirmed cases and 225 hospitalizations, according to NBC News. The outbreak remains centered in Lancaster County but has spread across the state.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 4,080 measles cases in 2026, the highest annual total since 1991, according to NBC News and The Guardian.

Why It Matters

Pennsylvania's case and death reporting has become a focus of a broader disagreement over how measles-related fatalities should be counted. The CDC's public measles outbreak website has acknowledged two Pennsylvania deaths, while saying other reported measles-related deaths in the state are under review, NBC News reported.

The six reported Pennsylvania deaths since August include two infants in Lancaster County, a 40-year-old woman with asthma and severe lung disease, an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident who died after a severe neurological complication, and a 20-year-old woman with immune compromise related to leukemia, according to reports cited by NBC News and The Guardian.

The first two reported deaths were announced in late August. One infant was born after the child's mother had measles during pregnancy, and the other was a 6-week-old with a rare genetic condition, the outlets reported.

Background

The vast majority of people diagnosed with measles in Pennsylvania have not been vaccinated. Fewer than 1% of the state's reported cases occurred among people who were fully vaccinated, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, as cited by NBC News and The Guardian.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvania's confirmed cases had been diagnosed in adults as of Friday, NBC News reported. The Guardian reported that about one-third of infections overall had occurred in people 18 or younger.

Measles can cause serious complications, particularly among young children, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. The Franklin County coroner's office said cardiac complications can occur in measles cases, though they are uncommon, according to NBC News.

What Happens Next

The CDC said Thursday that it would send an Epidemic Intelligence Service scientist to Pennsylvania later in the week to help with the outbreak response. The agency also planned to release nearly $4 million to support the state's measles response, NBC News reported.

The CDC said it would continue working with Pennsylvania health officials and reiterated that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles and protect against infection. Pennsylvania's health department continues to review the Franklin County death.