A fourth person has died from complications related to measles in Pennsylvania, say state officials, in an outbreak that has infected hundreds of people.
An 18-year-old died from acute encephalomyelitis, a rare and severe neurological complication of measles, the Mifflin County Coroner's Office in Pennsylvania said.
The Keystone state has seen over 600 cases of measles this year, primarily in Lancaster County.
The US eliminated measles in 2000 with the help of vaccines, but it has this year experienced the highest number of deaths from the virus since the 1990s.
Last year, three people - including two children - died from a measles outbreak in Texas that spread predominantly among the Mennonite community.
The rising number of cases has come as vaccine hesitancy in the US has increased in recent years, leading to lower immunisation rates.
In Pennsylvania, state and local officials have said the 18-year-old and a 40-year-old, both unvaccinated, died from measles-related complications over the past month.
Two infants have also died. US children typically do not receive their first MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine until 12 months of age.
Source: BBC News, 15 September 2026
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