Pennsylvania’s Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday that an 18-year-old resident of Mifflin County has become the fourth person to die from measles in the state’s ongoing outbreak. The teenager was unvaccinated.
The announcement followed the release of a county coroner’s report regarding the death of an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County over the weekend. Prior to these latest fatalities, the state had reported two deaths in Lancaster County involving infants—a newborn boy and a 6-week-old girl—who were too young to receive immunizations.
According to Mifflin County coroner Andrea L. Alcalde, the 18-year-old’s cause of death was identified as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare but recognized severe complication of the disease. ADEM is a rapidly progressing autoimmune disorder in which inflammation triggered by an infection damages the protective coverings of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Health officials noted that while ADEM was commonly associated with measles prior to the widespread adoption of vaccines, other viral infections can also lead to its development. The state’s current measles outbreak is approaching 700 confirmed cases.
ADEM is so rare but devastating. Thanks for explaining the neurological link, very informative article.
I never thought I’d see measles back like this. Scary how quickly these outbreaks escalate.
Can we clarify what ‘unvaccinated’ means here? Access issues vs. choice makes a huge difference in the conversation.
Seventy hundred cases and four deaths? When does Pennsylvania declare a state of emergency again?
This is absolutely heartbreaking. The fact that this was preventable makes it even more painful to read.