Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirms measles death in Pennsylvania

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed that a six-week-old infant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, died from measles, following his previous skepticism regarding state reports of two measles-related deaths. The confirmation followed an investigation by Lancaster County coroner Stephen Diamantoni, who determined that while one infant death was caused by a ruptured spleen, the second was measles-related. This acknowledgment triggered a dispute between Kennedy and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who had accused Kennedy of directing the CDC to suppress data and politicize the outbreak. The incident occurs amidst an ongoing outbreak in Pennsylvania that has resulted in 577 illnesses and 98 hospitalizations.

Consequences

The National Center for Health Statistics is expected to update its federal mortality records as it reviews additional medical documentation regarding the outbreak. The disagreement highlights ongoing tensions between federal health oversight and state-level reporting during this public health crisis.

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