Pennsylvania measles deaths become a public dispute as coroner and federal officials raise questions

A public dispute over two reported measles deaths in Pennsylvania has drawn in a county coroner, state health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a federal cabinet secretary, all presenting conflicting accounts of what the evidence shows. Pennsylvania health officials use the term "measles-associated death" when laboratory or epidemiological evidence links the virus to a fatality, even if a coroner identifies a separate immediate cause of death. Both individuals were unvaccinated, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed, and these were the state's first measles-related deaths in 35 years.

Here is what the coroner said. Lancaster County coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni found that the newborn died shortly after birth from a lacerated spleen and had tested positive for measles acquired before birth. His office was still investigating when his comments became public, and he said he was not aware of the second reported death. Pennsylvania law does not require all deaths to be referred to a coroner, the state health department noted.

The dispute escalated when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on X alleging that Pennsylvania had not given the CDC relevant information about the outbreak and suggesting the deaths could have been fabricated. Kennedy also accused Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro of fearmongering and weaponizing infectious disease fears for political gain.

What state and federal agencies are saying

The CDC posted on X expressing appreciation for Kennedy's efforts to clarify conflicting information, said the discrepancies raised important questions, and stated it was working to determine what occurred. The agency added that the governor's office had not provided information relevant to the outbreak and had declined its offers of assistance.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen disputed that account directly. She said the deaths were reported to the CDC's measles response team early Tuesday morning and that state epidemiologists had thoroughly investigated both cases. Both individuals tested positive for measles, she confirmed.

Shapiro, at a press conference before Kennedy's post, called the deaths real-life consequences of misinformation about the measles vaccine. He later posted on X arguing that Kennedy had stoked confusion among parents, resulting in less protection from measles and more cases.

Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons said he did not believe enough evidence existed to confirm the deaths were caused by measles, citing information from the county coroner's office.

What measles can do to the body

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, explained that measles can affect the spleen, potentially causing enlargement and, in rare cases, rupture. Pregnant women, newborns, and young infants face a higher risk of serious complications. Infants too young to receive the MMR vaccine, which guards against measles, mumps, and rubella, are particularly vulnerable. When a patient has measles alongside another immediate cause of death, Siegel said, specialists consider whether the virus contributed through immune suppression, secondary infection, or direct organ damage.

Lancaster County sits at the center of Pennsylvania's current outbreak. As of Friday, the state had reported 424 confirmed cases and 73 hospitalizations.