29/09/2026
A recent measles‑related death in the US shows how quickly vaccine‑preventable diseases can turn deadly.
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 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.
What this means for Australia?
When measles spreads overseas, the likelihood of imported cases here rises too.
Measles is a serious infection which can cause severe complications including pneumonia and encephalitis.
Australia has already seen more exposure alerts this year, and our protection depends on keeping vaccination rates high. Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere, and outbreaks in the US show how fragile progress can be when immunisation gaps grow.
Staying up to date with vaccines is how we keep measles from infecting Australians.
