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(The Center Square) - A measles death in Jefferson County remains under investigation by Pennsylvania’s state Department of Health, a spokesman told The Center Square on Monday.
The case involved a 40-year-old woman in Summerville. She died from the virus' complications on Saturday. Jefferson County Coroner Greg Furlong confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday, saying no more identifying information would be released.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. We ask that the public and media respect their privacy as they mourn the loss of their loved one.”
Neil Ruhland, a department spokesman, said in an email Monday that officials there were aware of the report and were still investigating. The state maintains a measles dashboard that identifies, as of Friday, 676 total cumulative cases across 37 counties, 124 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Since Sept. 9, 52 new cases have been diagnosed, including in four vaccinated residents.
"The department's primary focus remains on stopping the spread of measles across the commonwealth by expanding access to measles vaccination," Ruhland said. "Those efforts also include ensuring health care providers have the resources they need and keeping Pennsylvanians informed through regular updates to DOH's measles dashboard."
The Summerville fatality is the third in Pennsylvania in 35 years connected to measles. Two infants died in Lancaster County last month, the department said. That figure is disputed among local officials there, including the county coroner and forensic pathologist. They say a ruptured spleen suffered shortly after childbirth caused the newborn's death.
The second death, however, was confirmed to be of a 6-week-old infant diagnosed with Amish fatal microcephaly, a rare genetic condition.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, while announcing the first two deaths on Aug. 25, blasted U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. for rhetoric and directives that he says have lowered Americans' trust in vaccinations - a sentiment again reiterated at press conference earlier this month in Philadelphia.
The MMR vaccine - which stands for measles, mumps and rubella - isn't administered until infants are at least 1-year-old. An early dose, between 6 and 11 months, is only recommended when active cases exist. A second dose is given before starting elementary school.
Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner and Public Relations Officer Jason Stiver said on Sunday that associating measles with childhood illnesses deemphasizes the impact of severe complications in adults, too.
"Measles is highly contagious and can result in serious respiratory illness, hospitalization, and in rare cases like this, death," he said. "We encourage residents to stay informed, follow guidance from public health officials, and take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their families.”
The state said that it will rely on the epidemiological case definition for a measles-associated death, which requires a laboratory confirmation of the virus; or living or working in a geographically defined area where community transmission is occurring, as determined by public health authorities; or domestic or international travel, transit, or residence in a geographic area where community transmission is occurring.