Pennsylvania health officials say a fifth person linked to the state’s measles outbreak has died, marking another troubling development in the largest active measles outbreak in the United States. The person lived in Lancaster County, was not vaccinated and tested positive for measles, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The state now has 943 confirmed measles cases spread across 39 counties. Health officials reported 40 new cases since earlier in the week. Pennsylvania has become the center of the nation’s biggest ongoing measles outbreak as public health workers continue efforts to slow the spread of the virus, WHYY reported.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact. Fox 29 reported. The virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms often begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes before a rash develops, PennWatch said…