A newborn baby was one of Pa.’s two measles-related deaths, state says as RFK questions whether they were ‘fabricated’

Key Points:

• Pennsylvania health officials confirmed two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, including a newborn baby, marking the first measles deaths in the state in 35 years and the first in the U.S. this year; over 400 cases have been reported in 29 counties amid declining vaccination rates.
• The Lancaster County coroner stated the newborn’s death was due to a ruptured spleen and not directly caused by measles, although antibodies were present; this has fueled debate and misinformation about the nature of the deaths and vaccine safety.
• Political tensions escalated as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary under President Trump, accused Governor Josh Shapiro of fabricating the deaths and spreading misinformation, while Shapiro condemned Kennedy for promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric.
• Experts emphasize that measles is highly contagious and can be fatal, particularly in unvaccinated individuals, and urge transparent communication from health authorities to counteract misinformation and prevent further outbreaks.
• Local officials remain divided on public information sharing about the outbreak, with some questioning the official death reports and others advocating for increased vaccination awareness to control the spread of measles.