A Pennsylvania coroner confirmed on Wednesday that two infant deaths last month were linked to a measles outbreak, noting that the virus directly caused one of the fatalities. Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni stated he shared his findings with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though the agency has not confirmed whether it will classify the deaths as measles-associated, keeping a disclaimer on its website. The first infant, Ivan Miller, died on August 14 shortly after birth from a ruptured spleen. Diamantoni noted that while the boy had a measles infection listed as a contributing factor on his death certificate because it was a significant condition at the time, it did not cause the spleen injury, and the exact cause of the spleen trauma remains under investigation. The second infant, 6-week-old Mary Stoltzfus, died at her home on August 18. Diamantoni stated that a measles infection killed her, as she was born with Amish lethal microcephaly, a genetic birth defect that left her highly vulnerable to infections. Her cause of death was determined by her treating physicians rather than an autopsy. Neither infant was old enough to receive the measles vaccine, which is usually administered around one year of age. The cases sparked intense national attention and a political dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously questioned the validity of the deaths. While Kennedy later acknowledged the coroner’s conclusion that measles caused one of the deaths, public health experts have expressed growing concern regarding the transparency and reliability of CDC reporting under current administration leadership. Meanwhile, state officials reported that Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak has grown to at least 624 cases across 37 counties this year. Health experts attribute the broader surge in preventable infectious diseases to declining vaccination rates that have fallen below the 95% coverage threshold required to prevent outbreaks. International health officials are scheduled to meet in November to evaluate whether the U.S. and Mexico have maintained their measles-free status.
Source: cbsnews.com
