A fifth unvaccinated person has died of measles in Pennsylvania, as announced by the state's health department on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as a resident of Lancaster County, which is currently experiencing a significant outbreak that began in late April.

Current Outbreak Statistics

As of Wednesday, the updated case count stands at 943 across 39 counties, with 119 cases reported in just the last seven days. At least 176 individuals have been hospitalized due to the outbreak. Notably, Lancaster County has reported 381 cases and three of the five deaths linked to this outbreak.

Details of the Deaths

The previous two deaths were both infants who were too young to be vaccinated: a newborn boy and a 6-week-old baby girl. The identity of the county's third death, announced today, has not been disclosed. The other two fatalities included an unvaccinated 18-year-old resident of Mifflin County, who developed severe neurological complications from measles, and an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman with several chronic health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).