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6-week-old Amish child died from measles, Lancaster County coroner confirms
LancasterOnline • • general
Key Points:
- A 6-week-old Amish infant with Amish lethal microcephaly died from measles in Lancaster County, marking the first confirmed measles death in Pennsylvania since 1991 and the first in the U.S. this year.
- Amish lethal microcephaly is a rare neurological genetic disorder primarily affecting Amish infants, who typically live only 5 to 6 months and often die from respiratory infections due to their compromised brain function.
- The coroner confirmed that while the infant had microcephaly, measles was the direct cause of death, and the case was managed by the Clinic for Special Children in Leacock Township.
- The coroner's office was not initially notified of the death, as providers did not consider it necessary to refer the case given the infant’s underlying condition and expected health outcomes.
- The Clinic for Special Children declined to comment due to patient privacy, directing inquiries to the Lancaster County coroner and the state Department of Health for information on measles deaths and the outbreak.
