Pennsylvania reports sixth measles-associated death as cases reach 1,467

Pennsylvania health officials on Wednesday confirmed a sixth measles-associated death this year in an unvaccinated Jefferson County resident who tested positive for measles and died, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported the death and added it to the state's measles dashboard.

The outbreak, now in its eighth month, has produced 1,467 confirmed measles cases across 45 counties, an increase of 34 cases since Nov. 2, according to the Department of Health and the CDC dashboard. Lancaster County has recorded 504 cases, and Butler County was newly added to the list of affected counties, bringing the number to 45 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

The six measles-associated deaths include three Lancaster County residents, two Jefferson County residents and one Mifflin County resident as of Nov. 4. The Department of Health did not release additional identifying details, saying it was protecting the privacy of the person and family.

The department has said a measles-associated death requires that "death must occur within 30 days of symptom onset" in a person with clinical evidence of measles and a positive laboratory test, and that "death must not be due to unrelated causes," with additional information such as exposure to a confirmed case or medical records also considered. In October, the Franklin County coroner reported a measles-associated death, but the Department of Health said as of Nov. 4 its investigation has not found any Franklin County cases meeting the criteria.

Since the outbreak began in late April, state health officials have administered more than 6,800 MMR vaccinations at 241 pop-up clinics in affected communities. The Department of Health says the two-dose MMR vaccine provides 97% protection against measles, and that five of the 1,467 cases, less than 1%, have occurred in vaccinated individuals. Hospitalizations total 283.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the state has surpassed its highest number of measles cases in nearly 50 years. The health department said it is continuing its response to the outbreak and will provide updated information on cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Update, November 4, 2026

ABC News reported Wednesday that the sixth Pennsylvania death raises the U.S. total to seven measles-associated deaths in 2026, with one of those deaths in New York. New York health officials said a child in Lewis County died of measles, the state's first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years, according to ABC News. The network also said, citing CDC data, that nationwide infections have passed 4,800 this year, the highest count since 1991, and that at least 96 percent of cases involved people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.