The Lancaster County coroner has concluded that a 6-week-old infant died from complications related to measles, amid an ongoing outbreak in Pennsylvania. The infant, who passed away last month, was diagnosed with Amish microcephaly, a rare genetic disorder that increases susceptibility to respiratory infections, according to Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, the county coroner.

State health officials had previously reported two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County as part of an outbreak that has infected over 540 people and led to more than 90 hospitalizations. However, questions surfaced regarding the accuracy of the reported fatalities. Dr. Diamantoni stated he was initially made aware of only one potential death—a newborn who tested positive for measles and died shortly after birth.

Following the state announcement, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised concerns via social media, suggesting the death reports might have been fabricated by a staff member of the Pennsylvania governor’s office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), led by new director Dr. Erica Schwartz, also distanced itself from the state’s claims. The CDC instructed staff not to include the two deaths in its national measles statistics and later stated on its website that it had no records indicating measles as the underlying cause of death in these cases.

In response, Dr. Diamantoni initiated an investigation into the second reported death and identified the 6-week-old infant with Amish microcephaly. Reviewing the medical records, he concluded that measles significantly contributed to this child’s death. He further explained that the treating clinic had not referred the case to his office, as deaths are generally expected among infants with this genetic condition, often triggered by viral infections.

State health authorities have not publicly confirmed whether this 6-week-old was one of the two fatalities announced earlier. Regarding the first reported death—the newborn—Dr. Diamantoni maintains that measles was not a contributing factor. The infant’s immediate cause of death was a lacerated spleen. State officials describe it as a “measles-associated death,” citing that measles can cause spleen enlargement, which elevates the risk of injury and rupture.

The situation highlights complex challenges in attributing causes of death amid infectious disease outbreaks and underscores differences in interpretation between local and federal health authorities.