Dispute Arises Over Measles Deaths in Pennsylvania Following Health Officials' Report

<p>Days after Pennsylvania health officials reported two measles deaths, a public dispute has emerged regarding the factors contributing to the fatalities.</p><p>The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the two "measles-associated" deaths on Tuesday, noting that both individuals were unvaccinated.</p><p>These were the state’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years, according to the release.</p><p>The confirmation followed comments from county coroner Stephen Diamantoni, who stated that a newborn died shortly after birth from a lacerated spleen and had tested positive for measles acquired before birth, as reported by <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/health/measles-deaths-pennsylvania-rfk-shapiro-dispute-20260826.html">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>.</p><p>Diamantoni's office is still investigating the newborn’s death, and he mentioned that he was not aware of the other reported death, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/08/27/shapiro-rfk-measles-deaths-vaccines">Axios</a>.</p><p>The Pennsylvania Department of Health stated that not all deaths are referred to a coroner under state law.</p><p>The DOH uses the term "measles-associated" when laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles is present, even if a coroner or medical certifier does not identify measles as the immediate cause of death.</p><p>Measles can affect the spleen, potentially causing enlargement and, in rare cases, rupture, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst.</p><p>Pregnant women, newborns, and young infants can face a higher risk of serious measles complications, the doctor noted.</p><p>Infants who are too young to receive the <a href="https://foxnews.com/health/american-vaccines-transformed-public-health-over-250-years-outweighs-harm">MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine</a> can be especially vulnerable.</p><p>HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned whether Pennsylvania officials provided sufficient information to substantiate the two measles-associated deaths.</p><p>In a post on X, following the coroner’s comments, Kennedy alleged that Pennsylvania had not given the CDC relevant information and suggested the deaths could have been "fabricated."</p><p>"The announcement appears to have been premature, and the deaths may even have been altogether fabricated by one of the Governor's hopeful staffers," he wrote. "The Lancaster County Coroner says that it has no record of any measles deaths."</p><p>Kennedy also accused Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his office of "fearmongering, misinformation, finger-pointing and the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain."</p><p>At a Tuesday press conference, Shapiro stated that the deaths illustrated the "real-life consequences" of misinformation about the measles vaccine.</p><p>In a subsequent post on X, the governor claimed Kennedy had "stoked confusion amongst parents and others — and the result has been less protection from measles and more cases."</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also addressed the debate on X, expressing appreciation for RFK’s efforts to clarify conflicting information about the cause of the two reported deaths.</p><p>"CDC is working to determine what actually occurred," the agency wrote. "These discrepancies raise important questions, particularly because the Governor’s Office has not provided CDC with information relevant to the outbreak and has declined our offers of assistance."</p><p>"Under President Trump’s and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, CDC will follow the facts and tell the American people the truth."</p><p>Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen disputed the CDC’s account, stating that the two deaths were reported to the agency’s measles response team early Tuesday morning.</p><p>In a post from the Pennsylvania Department of Health account, Bogen said she had reviewed the case investigations and that state epidemiologists had thoroughly investigated both deaths. She confirmed that both individuals tested positive for measles.</p><p>Meanwhile, Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons expressed skepticism regarding the evidence linking the two deaths to measles, citing information he said he received from the county coroner’s office, according to <a href="https://local21news.com/news/local/lancaster-county-commissioner-wants-clarification-surrounding-measles-associated-deaths-infectious-disease-cdc-pennsylvania-pa-department-of-health-governor-josh-shapiro">Local21 News</a>.</p><p>Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.</p><p>"If the impact of measles on the immune system or stress on other major organs as a result of the disease leads to death, that would be a measles-associated death," he told Fox News Digital.</p><p>When a patient has both measles and another immediate cause of death, several considerations come into play when infectious disease specialists determine whether the virus was a contributing factor.</p><p>"It has to do with whether the immediate cause of death is from measles itself, as in measles pneumonia, or due to damage to the immune system and secondary infections or other diseases that result," Siegel said.</p><p>Lancaster County is at the center of Pennsylvania’s current measles outbreak. As of Friday, the state had reported 424 confirmed cases and 73 hospitalizations.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to the involved government officials requesting comment.</p>