One of the measles deaths reported in Pennsylvania was revealed to be that of a newborn infant from Lancaster County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Wednesday. The revelation came after government and health officials refused to provide information about the deceased other than stating both were unvaccinated. However, on Wednesday, details surrounding the deaths began to change, and a coroner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, said one of the deaths was of a newborn infant, who, with signs of measles antibodies present, died from a lacerated spleen. Initial reports claimed that two people had died from the measles. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro held a media briefing about the deaths at Lancaster General Health’s Women and Babies Hospital, in which he said the fatalities were indicative of “the consequences of a lack of immunization.” However, as mentioned above, Shapiro and other Pennsylvania officials refused to release any other information about the deceased, claiming they did not want to violate each family’s privacy.“We hope, and we pray, that those deaths will be the last,” said Shapiro. “This illness and death from measles is completely preventable.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen echoed similar sentiments, expressing condolences to the families who suffered “this unimaginable loss.”
