The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced this week that two residents of Lancaster County have died in cases classified as measles‑associated – the first such deaths in the Commonwealth in 35 years. Both individuals were unvaccinated, and state officials say laboratory testing confirmed measles infection.
State officials confirm deaths, CDC seeks clarification
Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said the department had thoroughly reviewed the investigations and could verify that the two decedents tested positive for measles. She added that the cases were reported to the CDC’s measles response team early Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted a statement indicating it was still determining the full facts. The CDC noted that the governor’s office had not yet supplied all information it requested and that the agency’s offers of assistance had been declined.
Governor Shapiro accuses HHS of undermining public‑health efforts
Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, held a news conference Tuesday and said he had spoken with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warning that the secretary’s rhetoric was harming communities across the nation, especially in Pennsylvania. Shapiro argued that the anti‑vaccine messaging coming from the current administration was contributing to declining confidence in vaccines and the resurgence of preventable diseases.
Kennedy pushes back, claims political motivation
Secretary Kennedy, who previously led the vaccine‑skeptical group Children’s Health Defense, responded on social media, accusing the governor of fear‑mongering and “weaponizing infectious disease” for political gain. He suggested the deaths might have been fabricated by a Shapiro staffer to bolster a narrative that measles is more dangerous than it actually is, and he claimed the Lancaster County coroner had no record of measles‑related deaths.
Local medical experts weigh in
Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious‑disease physician, said it was premature to dismiss a role for measles in the fatalities. “Calling something a measles‑associated death does not mean the death was not caused by measles,” he told CNN. “The fact is we do not see measles‑associated deaths when measles is not circulating in the United States, and we are seeing measles circulate because of declining vaccination rates, largely driven by messaging from HHS and elsewhere in the government.”
Ratner added that the two deaths were tragic and that attempts to cast doubt on them dehumanize the families affected.
Outbreak context
So far this year Pennsylvania has reported 424 measles cases, all among people who were not fully vaccinated. Approximately one in six of those cases required hospitalization, according to state health data. Nationally, the CDC has confirmed 2,777 cases, with the two Pennsylvania deaths representing the first measles‑related fatalities reported in the United States this year.
The measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine is about 97% effective after two doses, and public‑health officials stress that the vaccine prevents the severe complications of measles, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
What families should know
Parents are urged to ensure their children receive both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine. The vaccine not only protects the individual child but also safeguards the broader community, especially those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Local health departments continue to monitor the outbreak and are working with schools and healthcare providers to increase vaccination coverage and prevent further spread.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
