Pennsylvania reports fifth measles death as outbreak reaches 943 cases
The state health department says an unvaccinated Lancaster County resident has died. Pennsylvania’s count differs from the CDC’s national tally of two.
Pennsylvania health officials have reported a fifth measles death in the state’s outbreak: an unvaccinated Lancaster County resident. The health department released no further details about the death.
The outbreak has reached 943 cases across 39 counties, including 119 reported in the past seven days. At least 176 people have been hospitalised. Lancaster County, the outbreak’s epicentre, accounts for 381 cases and three deaths.
Pennsylvania’s five reported deaths are the only measles deaths reported in the US this year, according to the source. The CDC’s national tally stands at two; the source says it is unclear which deaths the agency has counted or why its total differs from Pennsylvania’s.
State nurses have administered more than 8,500 measles, mumps and rubella vaccine doses this year, including more than 5,500 at pop-up clinics in affected areas. The health department says two MMR doses provide 97 per cent lifetime protection.
