A third person has died of measles in the US, health officials say

What the report says

Pennsylvania health officials said a 40-year-old woman died of measles, making her the third measles-related death reported in the United States this year. According to the state and county officials cited by Al Jazeera, the woman died in Jefferson County, west of Philadelphia, from complications linked to the disease. Officials did not name her. The report also said the woman was unvaccinated, citing The Washington Post.

The death comes amid a broader US measles resurgence. Al Jazeera reported that Pennsylvania has recorded the other two measles deaths this year, both in Lancaster County in August, where officials said the victims were also unvaccinated. State health authorities have recorded hundreds of cases in Pennsylvania this year, with Lancaster County accounting for a large share of the state total.

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but public health experts have warned that outbreaks can still occur when vaccination rates fall. The disease is highly contagious and can be life-threatening, especially for unvaccinated people. The Al Jazeera report said the US has logged thousands of measles cases so far in 2026, while health officials in Pennsylvania urged residents to protect themselves and their families.

The story also reflects continued tension between Pennsylvania officials and federal health leaders over how to classify measles deaths and communicate outbreak data. That dispute has become part of the wider debate over vaccines and public health messaging in the US.