Pennsylvania coroner reports second measles death in a child

A Pennsylvania coroner has confirmed a second measles death in a child in the state.

The measles deaths are the first reported in the United States this year amid a 35-year high in infections.

“Just today, we received a report of another child who died with measles, and we’re in the process of doing an investigation,” Lancaster County Coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, told WHTM Wednesday.

It is unclear if the second death reported by the coroner is further clarification of two deaths already reported, or if this brings the death toll to three.

There has been unusual friction between the state and the federal government after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked his newly appointed CDC director to remove a reference to two Pennsylvania fatalities from the agency’s online measles tracker after questioning whether the virus contributed to the deaths, according to a new report.

CDC staffers had accepted the state’s characterization of the deaths as linked to measles before recently-appointed Director Erica Schwartz ordered the edit, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

A Health and Human Services spokesperson told the outlet the agency had requested details needed to determine the cause of the deaths - but did not comment on Kennedy's or Schwartz’s reported actions.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Health Department told The Independent Tuesday that every reported measles case is “thoroughly reviewed to confirm it meets the CDC’s case definition for a measles case.”

The Independent has contacted Diamantoni for comment on the new reported death. The measles deaths are Pennsylvania’s first in 35 years, as well.

The CDC tracker still shows zero deaths from measles nationwide this year.

The CDC told The Independent earlier this week that the deaths have not been confirmed based on the information currently available to CDC.

The resurgence in measles cases is fueled by rising vaccine hesitancy, experts tell The Independent.