A 40-year-old woman has died from measles complications in Pennsylvania, marking the state\u2019s third measles-associated death this year as the U.S. experiences its worst resurgence of the highly contagious disease in 35 years.<\/p>\n
The woman, a Jefferson County resident, died on Saturday, county Coroner Greg Furlong said on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,\u201d Furlong said.<\/p>\n No other information about the woman will be released, he added.<\/p>\n The Pennsylvania Department of Health said it was aware of the death reported by the Jefferson County coroner.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Department of Health is conducting a thorough review of this case and will provide the public with updated information when it becomes available,\u201d health officials said in a statement.<\/p>\n At least 676 measles cases have been confirmed in 37 counties in Pennsylvania so far this year, the state\u2019s health officials reported Friday<\/a>. The outbreak has hospitalized 124 people in the state. Of the confirmed cases, fewer than 1% had been fully vaccinated, Pennsylvania health officials said.<\/p>\n The woman is the third person reported to have died in connection with measles in Pennsylvania. The two other measles-related deaths involved infants<\/a>, according to the Lancaster County coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni.<\/p>\n Measles symptoms typically begin with a cough, fever, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a red rash. The disease can cause severe complications, including pneumonia and swelling of the brain.<\/p>\n The Jefferson County coroner\u2019s office is working with Pennsylvania health officials on the case, Furlong posted.<\/p>\n