RFK Jr. Under Fire As Third Measles Death Confirmed In Pennsylvania Outbreak

Jefferson County Death and Outbreak Metrics

The woman, who lived in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, died on Saturday, according to a news release issued by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. County coroner Greg Furlong confirmed to CNN that the woman had not been vaccinated against measles. Furlong stated in a Facebook post shared by the coroner’s office that this is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. Furlong told CNN that the woman contracted the virus after a family member also became infected. She had underlying health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, and had been using supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day prior to contracting measles. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced it is reviewing the case in coordination with the coroner’s office. This fatality follows two previous measles-associated deaths reported in Lancaster County at the end of August, which marked the first deaths connected to the viral illness in Pennsylvania in 35 years. Lancaster County remains the center of the state outbreak, which reached 676 total cases as of Friday. According to reporting, 108 of those cases were added in the preceding week, and 124 individuals have required hospitalization.

Federal and State Political Clash Over CDC Assistance

The escalating outbreak has spurred a public dispute between Pennsylvania leaders and the federal government regarding public health oversight and intervention. Dr. Erica Schwartz, the newly confirmed director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a statement via email to CNN noting that federal health authorities had not been notified of the Jefferson County death by state officials. Despite repeated offers of assistance, Pennsylvania has not requested a CDC Epi-Aid, which would deploy epidemiologists and provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support, Schwartz said in her statement. Schwartz contrasted Pennsylvania’s approach with other states, noting that Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin have officially requested CDC Epi-Aids to manage their respective outbreaks. In late August, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro declined an offer of federal assistance from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Shapiro stated at the time that Kennedy’s public rhetoric and actions concerning vaccines were harming communities. Kennedy responded on social media by accusing Shapiro of fearmongering and political posturing, while suggesting that the initial Lancaster County deaths might have been fabricated to exaggerate the dangers of measles infections.

Disputed Details in Lancaster County Cases

The reporting around the earlier Lancaster County deaths also involved conflicting local assessments. According to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, his office disputed whether one of the initial infant deaths was caused by the viral illness. Diamantoni stated that a newborn died from a ruptured spleen determined by a forensic pathologist to be unrelated to measles. However, Diamantoni confirmed to CNN that a second death—involving a six-week-old infant who suffered from a severe genetic condition known as Amish lethal microcephaly—was directly caused by measles. Federal health agencies emphasize that measles carries significant risks for unvaccinated populations. According to CDC data, approximately one in five unvaccinated individuals who contract measles requires hospitalization. Additionally, up to one in 20 children with the virus develop pneumonia, one in 1,000 develop brain swelling, and the virus proves fatal for one to three out of every 1,000 children infected.