The state reported two deaths associated with the disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are challenging those deaths, drawing criticism from Governor Shapiro.
As the nationwide outbreak of measles continues, cases are continuing to spread across Pennsylvania. The state Department of Health has reported 540 cases, making the Commonwealth the second-highest number of cases in the country.
In Lancaster County, 242 cases have been confirmed. Measles cases have reached 36 Pennsylvania counties as of this week, with Lancaster County having the most by far. Chester and Mifflin counties are other hot spots in the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health identified Berks, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Jefferson, Indiana, Mifflin, Snyder, and York counties as areas of concern where the disease is actively circulating.
Data from the Health Department shows that 91 individuals have been hospitalized with measles as of Wednesday, a quarter of them being children.
Two deaths in Pennsylvania have been attributed to measles, but state and federal officials are clashing over whether or not measles was the true cause of death.
The deaths occurred in Lancaster County. One was a newborn who died during delivery with a ruptured spleen, and the second was a child whose death is still under investigation by the local coroner’s office. Reports show that it is unclear whether the child was one of the fatalities reported by the state last week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention challenged the deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“This week’s measles outbreaks update will not include the two measles-associated deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Aug. 25,” the C.D.C. announced on its website.
“The two measles-associated deaths announced by Pennsylvania have not been confirmed based on the information currently available to C.D.C. The information currently posted reflects the best available information and our commitment to transparency and telling the American people the truth – a foundational principle of the Trump administration,” the department said in a statement.
Governor Shapiro’s administration has continued to classify the two deaths as measles-related deaths, despite the ruptured spleen of the infant at delivery. Details for the second death have not been released.
Neil Ruhland, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said in a statement, “Every reported measles case is thoroughly reviewed to confirm it meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) case definition for a measles case. To date, D.O.H. has provided all required epidemiological data to the C.D.C.”
During a recent press conference, Shapiro said he received a call from Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy with an offer of federal staff assistance to manage the disease outbreak. Shapiro declined the offer.
“I was very, very blunt with him and I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that is coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America,” Shapiro said at the press conference.
In the case of the infant’s death, Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said to multiple media outlets that the cause of death was identified as a ruptured spleen, and that the newborn had a measles infection in the lungs from the mother at the time of birth. While measles can cause the spleen to be enlarged and susceptible to rupture, Diamantoni said the forensic pathologist did not find evidence of that.
The deaths are not currently counted in the C.D.C.’s measles dashboard.
