Six-week-old child in Pennsylvania dies from measles, coroner says
A six-week-old infant in Pennsylvania has died from measles amid a growing outbreak in Lancaster County. Health officials are investigating the circumstances, noting that the child had a pre-existing condition that increased vulnerability to respiratory infections.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the public health risks associated with measles outbreaks and the potential severity of the disease in vulnerable populations.
An electron microscope image of a measles virus particle. Photograph: Cynthia Goldsmith/CDC via AP An electron microscope image of a measles virus particle. Photograph: Cynthia Goldsmith/CDC via AP Pennsylvania Six-week-old child in Pennsylvania dies from measles, coroner says Officials decline to confirm whether death was one of two announced last week as Lancaster county outbreak grows
Prefer the Guardian on Google A six-week-old child in Pennsylvania died from measles, the Lancaster County coroner has determined, following two measles-related deaths in the county last week.
The determination comes as Lancaster county faces a growing measles outbreak.
Stephen Diamantoni, the county coroner, confirmed the death to multiple news outlets and said that the infant had Amish lethal microcephaly. Children with the condition typically live to only five to six months, and the condition can make children more vulnerable to respiratory infections.
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