PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman who died in 2015 from a measles infection was the first to have a fatal case of the virus in the U.S. since 2003.
The Seattle Times reports death records said Catherine J. Montantes, 28, died of pneumonia caused by the measles.
Montantes, who had a rare inflammatory muscle disease called dermatomyositis, was a former dental hygienist and a college student.
Her infection wasn’t found until after an autopsy, according to health officials, who said Montantes was exposed to the measles virus along with almost three dozen people at the Lower Elwha Health Clinic in late January of 2015.
A 52-year-old man who visited the clinic was later confirmed as Clallam County’s first measles case in 20 years.
