Pennsylvania Reports 6th Measles Death as Cases Climb to 1,137
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 13
Pennsylvania Reports 6th Measles Death as Cases Climb to 1,137
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 13
Summary
Pennsylvania said Monday its measles outbreak has reached 1,137 cases and 219 hospitalizations after a sixth death was reported in Franklin County.
The latest victim was a 39-year-old unvaccinated woman whose primary cause of death was listed as a probable acute cardiac event due to possible measles complications, according to the coroner.
State figures showed 157 new cases in the past week; one-third of infections have been in people 18 or younger, while fewer than 1% occurred in fully vaccinated people.
The outbreak began west of Philadelphia in April and officials have blamed low vaccination rates, recommending two doses of MMR or MMRV.
Nationally, the CDC still lists only two measles deaths and 4,080 cases in 42 outbreaks, reflecting a dispute with Pennsylvania over how measles-related fatalities are classified.
With Pennsylvania's measles deaths rising, could the broad definition of measles-associated fatalities be masking the true cause of these tragic outcomes?
As airborne measles surges past 4,000 national cases, what specific underlying conditions are turning this preventable illness into a deadly threat?
With vaccination rates dropping below critical thresholds, how are communities containing an airborne virus that lingers for hours after someone leaves?