A 40-year-old Jefferson County woman died from measles complications on Saturday, September 12, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Her death marks the third measles-related fatality reported in Pennsylvania this year. Coroner Greg Furlong stated that his office is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to review the case and requested privacy for the family.
The report follows the deaths of two unvaccinated individuals earlier this year in Lancaster County, which health officials said were the first measles-related deaths in the state in 35 years. The Lancaster County fatalities involved two infants who were too young to receive the standard first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Pennsylvania has reported a total of 676 cases and 124 hospitalizations as of Friday, September 11, according to state health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet added the previous two deaths to its official national count, stating it is reviewing whether the individuals died from measles or other causes while infected. CDC Director Erica Schwartz has not made public appearances or remarks regarding the current outbreak. Meanwhile, Governor Josh Shapiro (D) attributed the rise in cases to a tripling of vaccine exemptions in the state over the last decade and misinformation.
The outbreak affects Pennsylvania residents, particularly the unvaccinated and infants too young for immunization, as well as the healthcare systems managing 124 hospitalizations. As of August 20, 2,777 cases were reported nationwide, exceeding the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025. In Pennsylvania, the 676 reported cases span 37 counties, with 185 cases concentrated in Lancaster County, which is home to a plain community including Amish and Mennonite families.
For an average household, these developments signify a shift in public health risks for a disease once considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The Pennsylvania Department of Health now suggests infants as young as 6 months receive a temporary dose, though they still require the standard schedule starting at 12 to 15 months. Additionally, hospital visitors may face new restrictions, as seen at Geisinger Medical Center, which limited access to its neonatal intensive care unit following a potential exposure.
The outbreak is influencing federal policy and international standing. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to reduce the recommended number of childhood immunizations from 18 to 11 and suggested breaking the MMR vaccine into separate shots. In November, international health officials are scheduled to meet to determine if the U.S. and Mexico will lose their "measles-free" status due to the spread. The Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to investigate the most recent death.