Pennsylvania reports its sixth measles death this year. The CDC still says it’s two

More than 4,000 measles cases have been confirmed nationwide this year

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A sixth person infected with measles has died in Pennsylvania after the worst outbreak of the virus in the state in over 35 years.

“This is the first death in Franklin County in many years with a patient with a recent history of a measles diagnosis and meets the definition set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for a measles-associated death,” the coroner’s office wrote in a statement, shared to Facebook.

The office said it would not release any additional details about the case.

Pennsylvania’s measles tracker showed five deaths Monday but a note explained the next update would be Wednesday due to the Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday.

“Our team has reached out to the coroner’s office and is conducting a thorough review of the reported death. We will update the public after our investigation is finished,” Press Secretary Neil Ruhland said via email.

The department defines a measles-associated death as one that occurs within 30 days of the start of symptoms of infection, with clinical evidence of an infection, a positive lab test for measles and no other unrelated causes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only reports two deaths from measles in Pennsylvania.

There have been no updates to the federal death count since late September. A note above the data states the total is subject to change as more information becomes available and “relevant reviews are completed.”

Health Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro have traded shots at each other on social media over the numbers.

The CDC previously told The Independent that the agency had "mounted an aggressive response to measles outbreaks across the country.”