Unvaccinated Pennsylvania woman died of measles complications, coroner says
The 40-year-old unvaccinated woman reportedly had underlying health conditions.
The 40-year-old unvaccinated woman reportedly had underlying health conditions.
The short version
- A 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania has died of complications from measles, according to the county’s coroner.
- It marks the third vaccine-preventable, measles-linked death in the US this year.
- All three have occurred in Pennsylvania, which is experiencing an explosive outbreak that has caused over 670 cases and 124 hospitalizations across 37 counties .
What happened
Prior to these deaths, Pennsylvania had not reported a measles death in 35 years. It indicated the woman had several chronic medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and she required supplemental oxygen at all times.
Why it matters
Her health status made her vulnerable to complications from measles.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.