Pennsylvania Reports Fourth Measles Death, Most Cases in US

A fourth measles death in Pennsylvania comes as the state’s outbreak is now the worst in the United States.

Pennsylvania health officials have reported a fourth measles-related death in the state, which has become home to the most confirmed measles infections in the US in 2026.

According to the Associated Press, the latest death was an unvaccinated 18-year-old in Central Pennsylvania who died due to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which is a rare and severe neurological complication of measles.

Two deaths were reported in August. A third death was reported on September 14.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there have been 731 confirmed measles cases, as of Sept 16 data.

That number is now the most confirmed infections in the United States in 2026, surpassing South Carolina’s 670 cases.

The federal government continues to dispute Pennsylvania’s reported measles-related deaths. The CDC measles database continues to list an asterisk (*) under its measles death total, explaining that, “*The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) does not currently have any death records from 2026 that indicate measles is the underlying cause.”

As of September 11 data released by the CDC, the United States has documented 3,294 cases of measles. (An update is issued weekly and expected Sept 18.)