A Pa. coroner doubted a measles-linked death, sparking anti-vaccine outcry. Records show the state tried to reach him.

Key Points:

• Pennsylvania health officials made multiple attempts to contact Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni about an infant's measles-positive death before Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two measles-related deaths in August, but the coroner claimed he was not directly informed.
• Emails obtained reveal state health doctors reached out repeatedly and urgently to the coroner's office, offering 24/7 availability to discuss the case, contradicting Diamantoni's statements of limited communication.
• Diamantoni questioned whether one infant's death was caused by measles, attributing it instead to a lacerated spleen, which fueled misinformation spread by anti-vaccine activists and skepticism from federal health figures.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially omitted Pennsylvania's measles deaths from national data, later updating to acknowledge two deaths, while the state reports five measles-associated fatalities amid nearly 1,000 cases in the largest U.S. outbreak this year.
• Public health experts emphasize the need for clear, transparent communication between state officials and local coroners during health crises to prevent confusion, noting that both parties share responsibility for ensuring timely and accurate information dissemination.