A 6-week-old Amish infant in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has died of measles, marking the first time the county coroner has confirmed that a child died because of measles in this outbreak, according to Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni. The case has sparked a political and public health dispute over how the deaths are classified and reported.
Coroner Confirms First Measles Death in PA Since 1991
Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni confirmed the death of a 6-week-old Amish infant from measles on Friday, the first time the county coroner has confirmed that a child died because of measles in this outbreak. The infant, who had been receiving palliative care for Amish lethal microcephaly, died at home, with measles listed as the cause of death after an investigation. Diamantoni stated, I believe it was the 18th of August,
though the exact date remains unverified by official records. The death was initially not reported to his office, as the Clinic for Special Children, which treated the infant, did not consider it a case requiring coroner involvement.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health had previously reported two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County on August 25, 2026, but the state defined measles-associated
deaths as those where evidence of measles was present, even if the disease may not be assessed by the coroner as the immediate cause of death. Diamantoni later clarified that the infant’s death was not among the two initially reported, though he reported the six-week-old baby’s death to the CDC on Friday. The state’s epidemiology team maintains that both deaths were measles-related, citing laboratory and epidemiologic evidence.
CDC’s Controversial Decision and Political Backlash
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to Reuters, Kennedy requested that the CDC exclude the deaths from its tally, arguing that the state’s classification of the fatalities as measles-related was unverified. CDC Director Erica Schwartz reportedly complied, stating that available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other cases while infected with measles.
The dispute escalated after Kennedy accused Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro of fabricating the deaths, calling the announcement a replay of the Democrats’ COVID playbook.
Shapiro denied the allegations, calling Kennedy’s actions political grandstanding that fueled conspiracy theories. The conflict highlights tensions over how public health data is reported and the role of federal agencies in validating state findings. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association called it unheard of
for the CDC to publicly question state health departments’ conclusions.
Coroner’s Investigation and State Response
The coroner noted that the infant’s genetic condition, Amish lethal microcephaly, typically results in early death from respiratory infections, but measles was definitively identified as the contributing factor.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health emphasized that its investigations are thorough, stating, laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles is present
in the cases. However, the state’s communication has been limited by privacy laws, restricting details about the deceased. Shapiro criticized Kennedy for “sowing doubt” and directing the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths,
while Kennedy highlighted the coroner’s findings as evidence that the CDC should have waited for “the facts” before altering its reporting.
Implications for Public Health and Vaccine Hesitancy
The case underscores the challenges of managing measles outbreaks in communities with low vaccination rates, such as the Amish population in Lancaster County. The state has reported 540 measles cases this year, with the CDC noting that vaccine hesitancy is a major driver of the resurgence. The dispute over death classifications has further complicated public health messaging, with critics arguing that politicizing the data undermines trust in health institutions.
As of September 4, the CDC had not updated its national measles tracker to include the Pennsylvania deaths, citing ongoing investigations. The case also raises questions about the role of coroners in public health reporting, as Diamantoni’s office initially did not receive the infant’s death report.
