Measles in the news
- Thread starter Diogenes
- Start date
What is documented
Pennsylvania DOH and Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents as the first measles-associated deaths in the state in 35 years.
Shapiro used language such as “death from measles is completely preventable” while the department used the narrower term “measles-associated”—defined as laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles even when the certifier or coroner does not list measles as the cause.
One of those cases is a newborn boy who died shortly after birth on August 14 at a Lancaster County birthing center.
Newborns are not eligible for MMR until 12 months of age.
Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni and forensic pathologist Dr. Wayne Ross have said the cause of death was a traumatic laceration/rupture of the spleen with massive hemorrhage. They reported no enlargement or inflammation of the spleen and stated measles was not a contributing factor in their judgment.
Diamantoni has also said his office currently records zero deaths caused by measles and that he has no information on the second death the state cited.
Neighboring-county coroners have likewise reported no matching cases in some local coverage.
The state has not released details on the second decedent, citing "privacy".
Dr. Diamantoni has contradicted a simple “died of measles” framing.