JEFFERSON CO. (WOLF) — A 40-year-old Jefferson County woman has died in a measles-related case, the county coroner said, marking the third death in Pennsylvania this year associated with the virus.
Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong said the woman died Saturday. Her name, vaccination status and details about her medical history have not been released.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” Furlong said in a statement.
The coroner described the death as measles-related. No further case information is expected to be released.
The two previous measles-related deaths reported in Pennsylvania this year involved infants in Lancaster County. One was a 6-week-old girl with a rare genetic disorder who died from measles. In the other case, measles was listed as a significant condition when an infant died from a ruptured spleen, according to the Lancaster County coroner.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 676 measles cases in 37 counties as of Friday. The state said 124 people had been hospitalized, while four cases involved people known to have been vaccinated.
Health officials continue to urge Pennsylvanians to ensure they and their children are up to date on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The MMR vaccine is routinely given in two doses, with the first generally administered at 12 to 15 months of age.