Pennsylvania coroner confirms measles caused infant death amid dispute
Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni confirmed on 4 September that measles directly caused the death of a six-week-old Amish infant who also suffered from a rare microcephaly disorder, countering earlier statements that the fatality was due to a ruptured spleen. Pennsylvania health officials reported on 23 August that two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County had died from measles, marking the state's first measles deaths in 35 years. The deaths sparked a political dispute, with Governor Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
offering conflicting interpretations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later excluded the two deaths from its national measles tally, citing insufficient evidence after a request from Secretary Kennedy. Pennsylvania physicians criticized the CDC's removal as politically motivated. The coroner’s latest confirmation reinstates the measles classification for the infant.