A woman in Pennsylvania has died after contracting measles, according to her county coroner. The Jefferson County coroner confirmed the death and said the woman was unvaccinated, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. NBC News reports that the death highlights the danger the virus poses to people who already have other health problems.
The case is the third death in Pennsylvania connected to measles, according to AP News. The New York Times reports that the coroner described the woman's death as likely resulting from measles complications.
The reports do not include the woman's name, age, or the date of her death.
The death comes amid a measles surge in Pennsylvania that a public health advocate described as a warning sign, 6abc.com reports. Measles is a highly contagious virus, and the coverage points to unvaccinated status and underlying health conditions as factors in the severity of cases. NBC News framed the death as an illustration of the risks measles carries for people whose health is already compromised.
Details about how many cases the state has recorded, and where they are concentrated, were not included in the material reviewed.
What to watch next: whether Pennsylvania health officials release additional information about the outbreak and any further updates from the Jefferson County coroner's office.