Pennsylvania at the center of US measles outbreaks

Pennsylvania is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with more than a thousand people stricken since the outbreak began in April, according to The Hill and Ars Technica. On Saturday, October 10, a 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County died, marking the sixth measles-related death in the state.

Ars Technica reports that the deceased woman had several underlying health conditions and had recently tested positive for the virus. An advisory from Franklin County Coroner Jordan Conner stated the death meets the state health department's definition of a measles death. The coroner's office listed the primary cause of death as a probable acute cardiac event resulting from possible complications of the measles.

Fierce Healthcare reports that experts have identified sagging vaccination rates and friction between federal health leadership and the broader public health community as contributors to this year's outbreaks.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hill, Fierce Healthcare, Ars Technica, Ars Technica Health — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.