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Coroner disputes measles connection in infant death
WGAL • • health
Key Points:
- Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamontoni clarified that a newborn who died with a positive measles test was not killed by measles, but by a spleen laceration unrelated to measles infection.
- The forensic pathologist found no evidence of spleen enlargement or inflammation, which would be expected if measles caused the rupture.
- The cause of the spleen injury remains under investigation, and the Coroner's Office has no information on the second measles-associated death reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
- Diamontoni questioned the Department of Health's use of the term "measles-associated" for these deaths, suggesting the agency or governor's office should clarify their classification.
- Pennsylvania currently has 460 confirmed measles cases, with 210 in Lancaster County, but state officials have not responded to requests for comment on the deaths.
