A 40-year-old Jefferson County woman who died on September 12 had an active measles infection at the time of her death, the county coroner's office said on the evening of September 14, giving her case the laboratory evidence it had been missing. Coroner Greg Furlong confirmed that lab tests came back positive for measles, CBS News Pittsburgh reported. The unvaccinated woman, who had serious lung disease, had declined a measles test while she was alive, and a nasal swab taken at her death tested positive, NBC News reported.
The result matters beyond one family. Her husband also showed signs of measles but was not tested, Furlong told The Washington Post. He has since recovered, according to CBS. Illness that never reaches a lab is not counted as a confirmed case, and untested cases in a household can leave health departments with an incomplete picture of where the virus is spreading.
The federal picture has not changed. The CDC's national measles page lists 3,294 confirmed U.S. cases as of September 10 and says the National Center for Health Statistics has no 2026 death records that list measles as the underlying cause. Pennsylvania's health department has said it is conducting its own review of the Jefferson County death and has not issued a determination.
A Positive Result Moves the Case into State Review
The case has carried three labels in three days: suspected, then probable, then backed by a positive test. Her preliminary death certificate listed respiratory failure caused by suspected measles, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. On the afternoon of September 14, Furlong told The Philadelphia Inquirer he was amending the certificate to probable measles after receiving paperwork showing she had been exposed to someone with a positive lab test. The positive result was announced a few hours later.
The order matters because of how Pennsylvania counts deaths. The state defines a measles-associated death as one that occurs within 30 days of symptom onset in a person with clinical evidence of infection and a positive laboratory test, and it also weighs medical records and exposure history, the Inquirer reported. The Jefferson County result supplies the lab evidence, but state epidemiologists still must review the timeline and records.
The woman had a rash and fever before she died, Furlong said, and she had been in close contact with a neighbor who had a confirmed case. Pennsylvania shared its definition of a measles-associated death with the CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists on September 10.
Untested Illness at Home Can Hide an Outbreak's Reach
For households in affected counties, the practical lesson centers on testing. NBC News noted that measles has historically caused 1 to 2 deaths per 1,000 cases, so three deaths in a short period suggest Pennsylvania may have as many as 3,000 cases, in part because many sick people are never tested. That is an estimate, not a measured count.
The confirmed numbers are already large. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 693 cases this year as of September 14, including 99 in the past week, across 38 counties, CBS reported. Lancaster County accounts for nearly half, and Jefferson County reported 26 cases. Nearly all patients were not fully vaccinated, and the four infections the state identified in people vaccinated appropriately for their age make up less than 1% of the total.
Risk is not shared evenly. The CDC says children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have complications. Dr. Paul Offit, who directs the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told the Inquirer that the woman's COPD and asthma left her especially vulnerable.
Families who suspect measles should call a clinic before arriving. Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed days later by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Trouble breathing, confusion, seizures, or rapid worsening require urgent care, and adults with chronic lung disease should contact a clinician promptly after a possible exposure.
State and Federal Officials Clash Over Outbreak Coordination
The death also revived a dispute over coordination. In a statement released over the weekend, CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz said Pennsylvania officials had not notified her agency of the Jefferson County death. "Despite repeated offers of assistance, Pennsylvania has not requested a CDC Epi-Aid, which would deploy epidemiologists and provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support," she said. She noted that Texas and South Carolina were among the states that requested that help during large outbreaks.
State officials say they meet regularly with CDC staff and will continue to evaluate additional support. A state health department spokesperson told NBC News that the department informed the CDC on the morning of September 14 that it was investigating the death, and a CDC spokesperson confirmed that.
MedicalDaily previously reported on the suspected measles listing on her original death certificate and on two Lancaster County infant deaths that remain outside the federal count.
Vaccination remains the main protective step. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is available at many doctors' offices, pharmacies, federally funded health centers, and public health clinics, and two doses are about 97% effective. Pennsylvania says babies 6 to 11 months old who live in or will travel to affected areas can get an early dose. But Dr. Joe Aracri, chief of pediatrics at Allegheny Health Network, told CBS that Allegheny County is not in an outbreak. "There is no need to get the vaccine early," he said.
Key questions remain open. The state has not issued its ruling, the CDC has not said whether it would count a death that meets Pennsylvania's definition, and the CDC says it is still working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition for measles deaths. The CDC updates its national page weekly, and MedicalDaily will update this story when Pennsylvania issues its determination.
Developing Story Timeline
September 14, 2026, evening: The Jefferson County coroner's office reports that the woman tested positive for measles, according to CBS News Pittsburgh and NBC News.
September 14, 2026, afternoon: Furlong says the death certificate will be changed to probable measles, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
September 13, 2026: The coroner announces the death, and CDC Director Erica Schwartz says Pennsylvania had not notified the agency.
September 12, 2026: The woman dies. Her preliminary death certificate lists suspected measles.
Late August 2026: Pennsylvania announces its first two measles-associated deaths, both infants in Lancaster County.
Key Questions Answered
What is new in the Jefferson County case? The coroner's office reported on September 14 that a nasal swab taken at the woman's death tested positive for measles. Earlier that day, the coroner said the death certificate would be changed from suspected to probable measles.
Does this make it an official measles death? Not yet. Pennsylvania requires clinical evidence of infection, a positive lab test, and death within 30 days of symptom onset, and the state is still reviewing the case. The CDC's national page lists no 2026 measles deaths.
Who faces the highest risk of severe measles? The CDC lists children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. Adults with serious lung disease, like the woman in this case, can also be especially vulnerable.
Why does testing matter if symptoms look like measles? Lab confirmation helps health departments count cases accurately and trace exposures. Untested illness in a household can leave the true size of an outbreak unclear.
What symptoms should people watch for? Fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes usually come first, followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Call ahead before visiting a clinic, and seek urgent care for breathing trouble, confusion, or seizures.
Where can Pennsylvania residents get the MMR vaccine? Many doctors' offices, pharmacies, federally funded health centers, and state and local health department clinics offer it. Residents should call ahead to confirm availability.
