Pennsylvania, RFK Jr. Clash Over 2 Measles Deaths as CDC Disputes State's Outbreak Cooperation
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 28
Pennsylvania, RFK Jr. Clash Over 2 Measles Deaths as CDC Disputes State's Outbreak Cooperation
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 28
Summary
Two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died in Pennsylvania's measles outbreak, and state officials said Wednesday that one of them was an infant—the first measles-associated deaths reported in the state in 35 years.
Josh Shapiro accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of spreading harmful vaccine misinformation, while Kennedy publicly questioned whether the deaths were truly linked to measles and even suggested, without evidence, that the report may have been fabricated.
The dispute widened when the CDC said Pennsylvania had declined federal help and withheld outbreak information; the state health department called that inaccurate, saying it is in regular contact with CDC staff and reports weekly case data.
More than 400 measles cases have been recorded in Pennsylvania this year—the state's largest outbreak since 1992—amid renewed scrutiny of Kennedy's past vaccine skepticism despite his recent advice that people should get the MMR shot.
With Pennsylvania's measles hospitalizations reaching 20%, what hidden factors are accelerating this historic outbreak among vulnerable unvaccinated populations?
How will the unprecedented data dispute between state and federal health agencies impact the fight against America's surging measles crisis?