Pennsylvania reports seventh measles-linked death as cases rise

Nov 13 (Reuters) – Pennsylvania health officials on Friday reported the state’s seventh measles-associated death this year as the worst outbreak in decades spreads across the US.

Pennsylvania, the epicenter of the outbreak, has recorded 1,542 confirmed cases as of November 13, including 305 hospitalizations, the state health department said.

The latest fatality follows an infant’s death in Wisconsin and New York state’s first measles-associated child death in more than 30 years, both occurring in the first week of November.

Pennsylvania’s previous six deaths involved three residents of Lancaster County, two of Jefferson County and one of Mifflin County.

On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed six measles-related deaths nationwide this year, double the toll recorded in 2025. The CDC did not say in which states the deaths occurred.

Nationwide, measles cases have climbed above 5,000 this year for the first time since 1991, according to CDC data.

A discrepancy between state and federal death tallies arose after the CDC, under US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shifted from state health departments’ figures to the National Center for Health Statistics’ mortality data to track measles fatalities.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The outbreak has put the nation’s public health standing at risk. An expert panel convened by the Pan American Health Organization is expected to determine in the coming days whether the US will lose its official measles elimination status, which it has held since 2000.

Measles can be prevented through the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is about 97% effective after two doses.

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda and Sahal Muhammed)