18-year-old dies of measles in PA from severe neurological complication

In Pennsylvania, measles has claimed the life of a fourth individual, according to the state health department's confirmation on Tuesday. The latest victim was an unvaccinated 18-year-old from Mifflin County. The state's health department has also validated a report from the county coroner's office concerning the passing of an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County.

Prior to this, the state had reported two fatalities in Lancaster County, both of which occurred in infants— a newborn boy and a 6-week-old girl, both too young to receive the measles vaccine.

According to Andrea L. Alcalde, the Mifflin County coroner, the 18-year-old's demise was attributed to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare yet known severe consequence of measles. This condition is characterized by a swift and severe autoimmune disorder where inflammation caused by the infection erodes the protective coverings of nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord.

While measles vaccines have been widely employed, ADEM was traditionally linked to measles. However, other viral infections can also trigger its development.