Pennsylvania has reported its fourth measles-related death in recent weeks, this time an 18-year-old who died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare but severe complication. The Mifflin County coroner confirmed the cause, marking the state’s first measles fatalities since 1991. This recent death follows another reported just days earlier in Jefferson County, where a 40-year-old unvaccinated woman succumbed to the virus. Health officials have not released additional details about the 18-year-old victim, citing privacy concerns.
The state is battling its worst measles outbreak in over three decades, with 693 cases reported in 38 counties as of yesterday. This represents a 300-case surge since late August, when 393 cases were recorded in 28 counties. In 2025, there were three measles-related deaths across the United States, though none occurred in Pennsylvania.
Health Secretary Debra Bogen expressed condolences to affected families and emphasized the need for vaccination. “That means ensuring people have the facts about measles and access to the MMR vaccine—which kept measles outbreaks at bay for decades,” she stated. Bogen also highlighted the importance of community partnerships in addressing the outbreak.
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ADEM, the complication that caused the teen’s death, occurs in roughly 1 in 1,000 measles cases, primarily in children over 4 years old. Symptoms typically appear within weeks of infection and include fever, confusion, muscle weakness, and seizures. Additional symptoms may involve headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, numbness or tingling in limbs, difficulty swallowing, and optic neuritis. The severity of ADEM depends on the location of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, often leading to fatal outcomes if not treated promptly.
The outbreak has also claimed the lives of two infants in Pennsylvania, highlighting the vulnerability of unvaccinated newborns. One was a newborn who died shortly after birth, and the other a 6-week-old infant. These young children rely on herd immunity for protection, as the first MMR dose is typically administered around 1 year of age. Health officials stress that a 95% vaccination rate is necessary to safeguard at-risk groups, including infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
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