The virus measles directly caused the death of a six-week-old infant in Pennsylvania last month, and contributed to the death of another infant who died shortly after birth, according to the Lancaster County coroner. The revelations come amid a significant measles outbreak in Pennsylvania and a political dispute involving federal health officials.
Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni confirmed that Mary Stoltzfus died on Aug. 18 due to a measles infection. She had been born with a rare genetic condition called Amish lethal microcephaly, which made her highly susceptible to infections. Ivan Miller, born on Aug. 14, died from a ruptured spleen, with measles listed as a contributing factor on his death certificate, though Diamantoni stated the virus did not directly cause the spleen rupture. Both infants were too young to have received the measles vaccination, which is typically administered around one year of age.
Diamantoni has shared his findings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the agency has yet to officially count either death as measles-associated on its website, which still carries a disclaimer regarding the cases. This has led to concerns among public health experts about the CDC's transparency and data reporting, particularly when information conflicts with certain political viewpoints.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, expressed concern to The Associated Press, stating, "Frankly, the CDC is not to be trusted in sharing information. People are questioning their motives." The CDC's measles webpage has undergone revisions, with a previous note of two measles-associated deaths being changed to indicate the agency was awaiting further review before updating its reporting.
The circumstances surrounding these deaths have become a focal point in a political disagreement between Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and Trump administration officials. Following Shapiro's announcement of the deaths and his emphasis on vaccination, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly questioned the validity of the deaths, suggesting they might have been fabricated. Kennedy has a history of expressing skepticism about established vaccines.
Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a substantial measles outbreak, with over 620 cases reported across 37 counties this year. This surge comes as vaccination rates in the U.S. have fallen below the 95% coverage threshold considered necessary to prevent widespread outbreaks, a level that was maintained when the U.S. eliminated the domestic spread of measles in 2000. International health officials are scheduled to meet in November to determine if the U.S. and Mexico have retained their measles-free status.