Fifth measles-associated death reported in US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday that Pennsylvania has confirmed a fifth death linked to measles, as the United States continues to grapple with its worst measles outbreak in 35 years. Lancaster County health officials confirmed that an unvaccinated resident succumbed to the highly contagious disease, though they did not provide additional details.

The outbreak has affected 943 individuals across 29 counties in the state. Nationwide, there have been 3,642 cases reported in 47 states as of September 24.

Measles, declared eradicated in the US in 2000 following successful vaccination campaigns, has seen a worrying resurgence in recent years, fueled by vaccine skepticism and growing mistrust of health authorities. This resurgence has been amplified by former President Donald Trump's criticism of public health leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as recent comments from Trump's former health secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., who has questioned the severity of the measles illness and disputed certain deaths attributed to it.

In Pennsylvania, all the measles-related deaths have occurred in unvaccinated individuals. The disease manifests through fever, respiratory symptoms, and a painful rash, and in severe cases, complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation can occur, potentially leading to death. Globally, measles continues to claim tens of thousands of lives each year.