A spokesperson with the Jefferson County coroner’s office stressed the importance of public education and awareness about measles. <\/p>\n
WASHINGTON \u2014 Health officials in Pennsylvania are reporting a third measles-related death in the state this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jefferson County coroner Greg Furlong\u00a0said in a statement released Sunday t<\/a>hat a 40-year-old woman died Sept. 12 from complications associated with measles.\u00a0<\/p>\n The woman’s identity was not released, but officials confirmed she was a resident of the Jefferson County in western Pennsylvania.\u00a0<\/p>\n “This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” Furlong wrote.<\/p>\n A spokesperson with the office stressed the importance of public education and awareness about measles.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Many people associate measles with a childhood illness, but it can lead to severe complications in individuals of any age,” Jason Stiver said. “Measles is highly contagious and can result in serious respiratory illness, hospitalization, and in rare cases like this, death.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The coroner’s office said it was working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two other measles-associated deaths were reported in Pennsylvania in August, when two infants died within days of each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lancaster County coroner Stephen Diamantoni said he reported his conclusions to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the CDC has yet to determine whether it would include the deaths in its reporting.\u00a0<\/p>\n The federal health agency provides weekly reports on the latest number of confirmed cases and deaths on its website. In its latest report, which was updated Sept. 11, the agency said that the National Center for Health Statistics “does not currently have any death records from 2026 that indicate measles is the underlying cause.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Whether the agency includes the Jefferson County woman’s death in its tally is yet to be determined. The CDC typically issues its weekly reports on Thursdays or Fridays.\u00a0<\/p>\n A spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Department of Health\u00a0confirmed with FOX43 on Sunday<\/a> that the agency was conducting a thorough review of the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We are in touch with the coroner and appreciate his commitment to keeping the public informed,” Neil Ruhland said.<\/p>\n The U.S. eliminated the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but they have fallen in recent years to below the 95% coverage<\/a> needed to prevent outbreaks. Meanwhile, measles infections have been surging in recent years.<\/p>\n