READING, Pa. — A new dispute Thursday night over Pennsylvania’s measles cases and two reported deaths.
The state says two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died in connection with measles, including an infant.
But the Lancaster County Coroner says although measles was found in the infant’s body, the baby did not die from measles.
The nation’s top health official says the federal government is questioning the deaths and accusing Pennsylvania of not sharing information.
“We’re trying to figure out, you know, who those deaths were and whether they actually happened,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy made that claim Thursday, as new information emerged about one of the deaths.
The Lancaster County Coroner says an infant who tested positive for measles died from a ruptured spleen, not measles.
But Pennsylvania’s Department of Health stands by calling it a “measles-associated death.”
Officials say that means measles was detected in the person who died. It does not necessarily mean measles was the direct cause of death.
“We’re trying to get information about those two casualties,” Kennedy said.
Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons is also questioning the state’s announcement, saying the infant died with measles, not from it.
“The only state that won’t cooperate with us is Pennsylvania, and we can’t get any information,” said Kennedy.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen is pushing back.
She says her department investigated both cases and confirmed both people tested positive for measles.
Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro claims Kennedy is spreading conspiracy theories regarding vaccine components.
Despite the disagreement over the deaths, Kennedy and Pennsylvania officials do agree on one simple and important step.
“Our advice is that people should get the measles vaccination,” Kennedy said.