Measles deaths may have been ‘fabricated,’ RFK Jr claims after coroner raises questions
Meanwhile, at a Tuesday press conference, Shapiro said the deaths showed the “real-life consequences” of misinformation about the measles vaccine.
In a subsequent X post, the governor claimed Kennedy had “stoked confusion amongst parents and others — and the result has been less protection from measles and more cases.”
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In response to Kennedy’s comments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also spoke on X about the debate, expressing appreciation for RFK’s efforts to “clarify conflicting information” about the cause of the two reported deaths.
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“CDC is working to determine what actually occurred,” the agency wrote. “These discrepancies raise important questions, particularly because the Governor’s Office has not provided CDC with information relevant to the outbreak and has declined our offers of assistance.”
“Under President Trump’s and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, CDC will follow the facts and tell the American people the truth.”
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned whether Pennsylvania officials provided sufficient information to substantiate the two measles-associated deaths. (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen disputed the CDC’s account, saying the two deaths were reported to the agency’s measles response team early Tuesday morning.
In an X post from the Pennsylvania Department of Health account, Bogen said she had reviewed the case investigations and that state epidemiologists had thoroughly investigated both deaths. She confirmed that both individuals tested positive for measles.
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Meanwhile, Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons said he did not believe there was enough evidence to confirm the two deaths were caused by measles, citing information he said he received from the county coroner’s office, according to Local21 News.
What does ‘measles-associated’ mean?
Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.
When a patient has both measles and another immediate cause of death, several considerations come into play when infectious disease specialists are determining whether the virus was a contributing factor. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“If the impact of measles on the immune system or stress on other major organs as a result of the disease leads to death, that would be a measles-associated death,” he told Fox News Digital.
When a patient has both measles and another immediate cause of death, several considerations come into play when infectious disease specialists are determining whether the virus was a contributing factor.
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“It has to do with whether the immediate cause of death is from measles itself, as in measles pneumonia, or due to damage to the immune system and secondary infections or other diseases that result,” Siegel said.
Lancaster County is at the center of Pennsylvania’s current measles outbreak. As of Friday, the state had reported 424 confirmed cases and 73 hospitalizations.
Fox News Digital reached out to the involved government officials requesting comment.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/measles-deaths-fabricated-rfk-jr-claims-coroner-raises-questions