Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, the first in the Commonwealth in 35 years, but the county coroner disputes the cause of death in at least one case. Both individuals were unvaccinated, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department, which declined to release further details citing privacy concerns. Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons reported that the county coroner stated one individual “died WITH measles, but not from measles,” attributing the death to a lacerated spleen. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested the episode may have been fabricated. The Pennsylvania Health Department maintains the deaths were measles-associated, with the department’s health secretary, a pediatrician, stating they had thoroughly reviewed the case investigation information.
In the case with additional information released, an infant died shortly after birth due to a lacerated spleen, and a forensic pathologist determined the injury was not related to a measles infection, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s interview with the coroner. While viruses like measles can cause an enlarged spleen prone to rupture – as documented in a 2024 Polish study of 26 hospitalized infants – other explanations are possible. The coroner indicated the infant acquired the disease in utero from their mother, who has an unconfirmed vaccination status. Shapiro implied an unambiguous link between the deaths and measles, stating, “Death from measles is completely preventable.”
Vinay Prasad raised concerns that public health officials selectively released the information that the individuals were unvaccinated, while withholding details about their ages, community affiliation, length of illness before seeking care, quality of medical care received, or pre-existing conditions. He questioned why vaccination status was publicized if other details were withheld for privacy reasons. Left-leaning and right-leaning outlets are framing the issue differently, with some emphasizing the need for increased vaccination mandates and others stressing parental autonomy in healthcare decisions.
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