Shapiro Accuses RFK Jr. of Hiding 2 Measles Deaths as Pennsylvania Cases Near 700
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Sep 16
Shapiro Accuses RFK Jr. of Hiding 2 Measles Deaths as Pennsylvania Cases Near 700
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Sep 16
Summary
Two Pennsylvania adults died with measles, the state said Tuesday, matching earlier coroner reports from Jefferson and Mifflin counties and reigniting a public clash between Gov. Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Shapiro said Kennedy personally intervened to stop the CDC from reporting the deaths because they undercut his vaccine narrative; Kennedy called that false and said the CDC is applying a consistent national standard.
Nearly 700 cases have now been recorded across 38 Pennsylvania counties, while Kennedy argued Shapiro is worsening the outbreak by refusing CDC help that other states accepted.
Nationwide, 48 states have reported measles cases since the Texas outbreak began in January last year, and the nearly 3,300 cases logged so far in 2026 are the highest since the early 1990s.