Pennsylvania teen dies from measles complications, health officials report

NBC News • September 15, 2026 • general

Key Points:

Pennsylvania has reported a fourth measles-related death amid a growing outbreak, marking the first such fatalities in the state in 35 years, with nearly 700 cases and 133 hospitalizations this year.
The latest deaths include an 18-year-old from Mifflin County and a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County, both unvaccinated, as well as two infants from Lancaster County, who were too young to receive the MMR vaccine.
The state health department confirmed these deaths as measles-associated after thorough investigations, while the CDC has not yet verified the fatalities and noted no death records from 2026 listing measles as the cause.
The outbreak and related deaths have sparked misinformation and political conflict in Pennsylvania, with anti-vaccine activists disputing the cause of death and state officials emphasizing the role of falling vaccination rates.
Medical experts highlight that measles can cause severe complications such as brain inflammation and spleen rupture, which contributed to the fatalities, including a premature newborn whose mother had measles during pregnancy.

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