A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from complications associated with measles, according to a statement from the county coroner's office. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office announced the death on Facebook, noting that the individual was unvaccinated.
"This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” Coroner Greg Furlong stated. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed it is investigating the death.
As of Friday, the state Department of Health has reported 676 measles cases, with over 100 new cases identified in the past week. Approximately 124 individuals have been hospitalized due to the virus, and nearly all of these cases are among those who are unvaccinated.
The number of measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania has been a point of contention. The state health department has previously reported two measles-associated deaths linked to this outbreak. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, last updated Friday, does not list any measles deaths for 2026.
CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz stated that the agency had not yet been notified of the most recent death in Jefferson County. "CDC was not notified by Pennsylvania officials of this death,” Schwartz said. "Despite repeated offers of assistance, Pennsylvania has not requested a CDC Epi-Aid, which would deploy epidemiologists and provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support.”
In late August, Pennsylvania's top health official, Dr. Debra Bogen, addressed previous statements from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that her department had "refused to share information" with the CDC. Bogen stated at the time that her staff was having "regular meetings with professional staff at the CDC."