A newborn baby was one of Pa.’s two measles-related deaths, state says as RFK questions whether they were ‘fabricated’
Pennsylvania health officials are investigating two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County, including a newborn, amid a significant outbreak. The situation has sparked a public dispute between Governor Josh Shapiro and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine safety and the accuracy of the death reports.
Why it matters
The intersection of a public health crisis and political rhetoric regarding vaccines highlights growing tensions in U.S. health policy.
The state disclosed the age of one of two measles-related deaths announced Tuesday , both involving Lancaster County residents. Their deaths were the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years and the first in the United States this year tied to the highly contagious disease.
As vaccination rates decline in the state, an outbreak began in April this year has sickened more than 400 people in 29 counties — the epicenter of which is in Lancaster County, where nearly 200 individuals have tested positive for the viral disease. Local physicians and health officials say the true case count is likely much higher.
The state initially declined to share any information about the deaths, citing privacy concerns, and no information has been shared about the second Lancaster resident who died.
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