Pennsylvania Confirms 2 Measles-Associated Deaths as RFK Jr. Alleges Cases Were Fabricated
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Aug 27
Pennsylvania Confirms 2 Measles-Associated Deaths as RFK Jr. Alleges Cases Were Fabricated
3 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Aug 27
Summary
Pennsylvania said Wednesday that a newborn was one of two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents whose deaths were classified as measles-associated—the state’s first such deaths in 35 years and the first tied to measles in the U.S. this year.
State health officials said both patients tested positive for measles, but the department counts deaths as measles-associated even when measles is not listed as the immediate cause by a coroner or medical examiner.
Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni said the newborn died shortly after birth from a ruptured spleen and that the autopsy did not conclude measles caused the death, though measles antibodies were found and the rupture remains under investigation.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. escalated the dispute by accusing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration of potentially fabricating the deaths and withholding information from the CDC and county; the state said it reported the cases Tuesday and met CDC staff Wednesday.
The clash comes as Pennsylvania’s outbreak, which began in April, has sickened more than 400 people across 29 counties, with nearly 200 confirmed cases in Lancaster County as vaccination rates decline.