Lancaster County coroner says infant's spleen rupture not linked to measles
The coroner clarified that a newborn who tested positive for measles died from a spleen laceration unrelated to the infection, contradicting the state health department's classification.
Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamontoni said the infant’s death, initially counted among the state’s “measles-associated” fatalities, was caused by a ruptured spleen that forensic examination found to be neither enlarged nor inflamed. He noted that while measles can sometimes enlarge the spleen, the evidence in this case did not support a connection.
"The state indicated that one case that we investigated was counted as one of the measles-related deaths, but that individual died as a result of a laceration to the spleen," Diamontoni told reporters.
The newborn and the mother both tested positive for measles, but the coroner’s office has not linked the spleen injury to the virus. The investigation into the cause of the spleen damage remains ongoing, and the office has no details on a second death the Pennsylvania Department of Health listed as measles-associated.
When asked why the health department used the term “measles-associated,” Diamontoni said he was unsure and suggested the question be directed to the department or the governor’s office.
State health officials have not responded to inquiries, and the outbreak continues with 460 reported measles cases statewide, including 210 in Lancaster County.