The story

A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, died Saturday from complications associated with measles, county Coroner Greg Furlong confirmed. The woman had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was on 24/7 supplemental oxygen. According to Furlong, she had measles symptoms including a telltale rash and had been exposed to someone with measles, though testing had not yet confirmed the infection. She contracted measles after a family member had it.

Pennsylvania has reported 676 measles cases in 37 counties this year as of September 11, leading to 124 hospitalizations. Of those with confirmed cases, fewer than 1% were fully vaccinated. The state reported two other measles-related deaths in August, both involving infants who were not old enough to be vaccinated. The first dose is typically administered around 12 to 15 months of age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,387 measles cases nationwide as of September 13, 2026, up from 2,286 in 2025. Most cases have been in Pennsylvania with 676, South Carolina with 671, and Utah with 518. More than 100 cases have also been reported in Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, and Arizona. CDC Director Erica Schwartz said Pennsylvania has not requested federal outbreak support, while Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin have requested CDC assistance.