Fifth unvaccinated person dies of measles in Pennsylvania
A fifth unvaccinated individual has died from measles in Pennsylvania, the state's health department announced Wednesday. The outbreak has seen widespread transmission across the state.
A fifth unvaccinated person has died from measles in Pennsylvania, the state's health department announced Wednesday. The deceased was a resident of Lancaster County, which has become the epicenter of an ongoing outbreak that began in late April. The total case count has surpassed 943 individuals across 39 counties.
Lancaster County has reported 381 cases and accounts for three of the five deaths linked to the outbreak. The two previous fatalities were infants too young to be vaccinated, including a newborn boy and a six-week-old girl. No further details have been released regarding the third death announced in the county on Wednesday.
The outbreak, which started in late April, has seen 119 new cases reported in the last seven days alone. At least 176 people have been hospitalized thus far. The virus has spread to 39 counties within the state.
Health officials have expressed concern over low vaccination rates in certain communities, which are contributing to the continued spread of the virus.