Dispute Erupts Over Measles Deaths in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania county commissioner is taking issue with Governor Josh Shapiro’s announcement regarding two deaths linked to measles, stirring tensions with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the state grapples with an outbreak that has reached 460 confirmed cases in 31 counties.
Joshua Parsons, one of Lancaster County’s three commissioners, accused Shapiro of being “deceptive” in a press conference earlier this week, where the governor described the two “measles-related deaths” in a way that, Parsons insists, implied they were caused by measles.
“During the press conference, the governor said they were measles-associated deaths, but it felt like the underlying assumption was that these were deaths directly from measles,” Parsons remarked during a conversation with Fox News Digital.
At the press conference held with Dr. Debra Bogen at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Hospital, Shapiro stated that the two deceased individuals had not been vaccinated against measles.
“Today, we are witnessing the dire repercussions of insufficient immunization with these being the first measles-associated fatalities in our Commonwealth in 35 years,” Shapiro emphasized.
He strongly urged residents to get vaccinated for measles, underscoring that both illness and death from measles are entirely preventable.
Parsons maintained that Shapiro’s framing suggested the deaths were directly due to measles. He noted that national media coverage also followed this narrative; for instance, The New York Times headlined a Tuesday article, “Two Unvaccinated People Died From Measles in Pennsylvania, Officials Say.”
However, conversations Parsons had with the Lancaster County Coroner indicated that there had been no measles-related deaths reported this year in the county. “The coroner clearly stated that they had reported zero measles deaths or measles-associated deaths,” Parsons told Fox News Digital.
The coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamoantoni, has publicly expressed surprise at the press conference, noting he hadn’t been contacted by Shapiro or the Pennsylvania Department of Health about these supposed deaths. He recalled one instance involving an infant who died at home during a birth. While the infant tested positive for measles, Diamoantoni clarified that the death was not attributed to the disease, stating that the cause was a lacerated spleen.
In a response statement, the Pennsylvania Department of Health asserted that they consistently described the cases as “measles-associated.” They clarified, “The PA DOH has not detailed the cause of death for either individual. We used the term ‘measles-associated’ to indicate that evidence of measles was present; however, it does not imply that measles was the immediate cause of death.” The coroner reaffirmed that measles was not considered the cause of the infant’s death.
Parsons pointed out that the absence of reported deaths contradicts the governor’s claims. He raised questions about the accountability of reporting measles deaths to the county coroner, stressing that if another individual had died from measles in Lancaster County, that should have been communicated to the coroner.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health responded to inquiries regarding their decision not to liaise with the coroner by explaining that while they work in collaboration with county coroners, they lack regulatory oversight over coroner operations.
Kennedy also voiced disapproval over Shapiro’s remarks, suggesting that the rush to publicize the two measles deaths reflected poorly on political tactics today. He argued that the announcement appeared hasty, asserting it may not be accurate or could have been exaggerated by staff members eager to amplify a political message.
Meanwhile, as of Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed a total of 460 measles cases across 31 counties, marking the largest outbreak in the U.S. since 1991. Most individuals affected have not received vaccinations, especially within certain religious communities that generally avoid them.
Parsons commented, “Certainly, there are cases of measles here and in other Pennsylvania counties, notably among plain populations like the Amish and Mennonites, who largely refrain from vaccinations. They continue to live their lives as normal. We do have resources for vaccinations available for those who want them, but it’s ultimately an individual choice.” In a closing note, Shapiro’s office directed inquiries to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
A representative from The New York Times confirmed their confidence in the accuracy of their reporting related to the deaths.
