Woman, 32, dies in measles outbreak

A 32-year-old Poitiers woman has died of measles, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional health authority has announced.

The woman was hospitalised on February 1, and placed in intensive care the following day. The date of her death has not been revealed, though the authority has said she was not vaccinated.

A measles epidemic has raged in the region since November 2017, with 269 cases reported. In 66 cases, patients have been hospitalised, with four - including the deceased patient - requiring emergency medical care, including resuscitation.

The number of cases has accelerated in recent weeks, the health authority said, as the epidemic spreads. Of the 269 cases, 115 have been reported since January 24. In 32 of those recent cases, patients have been hospitalised.

Most of the confirmed cases - 177 - have been reported in the Gironde, according to reports, with the health authority saying immunisation would halt the outbreak in its tracks.

Prior to the latest death, 10 people in France have died as a result of measles in the past decade.