18-year-old dies of measles in PA from severe neurological complication

Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed the death of an 18-year-old resident of Mifflin County due to measles, marking the fourth fatality in the state's ongoing outbreak, which has now reached nearly 700 cases. The victim, who was unvaccinated, succumbed to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare and severe neurological complication where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This tragedy follows the recent death of an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman and two infants in Lancaster County who were too young to receive the vaccine. Before the widespread availability of measles vaccines, ADEM was a recognized risk associated with the virus. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation as the state grapples with the significant rise in infections, emphasizing the critical importance of vaccination in preventing such severe outcomes.