Coroner Confirms Measles Killed Pennsylvania Baby As Federal Count Falls Behind

A health official in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has confirmed that measles killed a six-week-old baby girl last month. The coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, shared his findings with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known as the CDC. Even so, the CDC has not added either of two infant deaths to its official national measles count. The situation has sparked a public argument between state and federal leaders about vaccines and the truth.

Mary Stoltzfus was only six weeks old when she died at home on August 18. She was born with a rare condition called Amish lethal microcephaly, which causes a very small head and an underdeveloped brain. Babies born with this condition usually live six months or less. Because of this illness, Mary's body had very little ability to fight off infections, and measles proved deadly for her.

A second infant, Ivan Miller, died on August 14, just days after he was born. An autopsy — a medical exam done after death — showed that he died from a ruptured spleen. Measles is listed on his death certificate as a contributing factor, meaning it was a serious condition he had when he died. However, Dr. Diamantoni said measles did not directly cause the spleen injury, and investigators are still looking into exactly what happened.

Neither baby was old enough to receive the measles vaccine. The first dose is usually given when a child is around one year old. This means the infants had no protection against the virus. Their deaths highlight how vulnerable very young children can be during a measles outbreak.

The CDC's website briefly listed two measles-related deaths, but then changed to say it needed more information before counting them. As of last Friday, neither death appeared in the official federal count. This has frustrated public health leaders, who say people need accurate and honest information to stay safe.

The situation also led to a public clash between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Governor Shapiro, a Democrat, said the deaths could have been prevented with vaccines. Kennedy, who has long questioned the safety of vaccines, suggested the deaths might not even be real. However, both deaths are recorded in official documents, and Kennedy later acknowledged the coroner's findings in a social media post.

Public health experts are worried about whether the public can trust federal health data. Dr. Georges Benjamin, the head of the American Public Health Association, said, 'Frankly, the CDC is not to be trusted in sharing information.' He added that people are beginning to question why the agency is holding back. This kind of doubt can make it harder for health officials to respond to outbreaks.

Meanwhile, measles continues to spread across Pennsylvania. By Wednesday, the state had recorded more than 620 measles cases across 37 counties in 2026. The U.S. once stopped measles from spreading regularly within its borders, but vaccination rates have dropped below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. International health officials plan to meet in November to decide whether the United States has lost its measles-free status.