Pennsylvania has confirmed a second child death from measles, with a Lancaster County coroner investigating the cause of death amid friction between the state and federal government. The two deaths are part of a 35-year high in measles infections in the US this year, with over 1,000 reported cases nationwide. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly asked his CDC director to remove references to the Pennsylvania fatalities from the agency's online tracker, questioning whether the virus contributed to the deaths. The incident has sparked outrage among medical experts who argue that measles can cause serious health issues, including brain-swelling and pneumonia.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
3,134 measles cases have been reported in the US as of September, with a growing outbreak in Pennsylvania linked to two deaths. The state has recorded 540 infections and 91 hospitalizations, mostly centered in Lancaster County. The two deaths were initially reported by the state, but Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked the CDC to delay reporting them, citing uncertainty about whether the virus contributed to the deaths. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro accused Kennedy of sowing distrust. The CDC has not confirmed the cause of death for either infant, with one coroner stating that a ruptured spleen may have caused the first death, while measles was listed on the newborn's death certificate.
Written for “Measles Outbreak in US Cities” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 3778: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-04
A Pennsylvania coroner has confirmed a second child measles death in the state.
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coroner → confirm → state
The measles deaths are the first reported in the United States this year amid a 35-year high in infections.
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deaths → report → 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.
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Diamantoni → receive → investigation
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.
uncertain
this → report → three
The Independent has asked the Lancaster County corner for clarification.
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Independent → ask → clarification
There has been unusual friction between the state and the federal government after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked his CDC director last weekend to remove a reference to the two Pennsylvania fatalities from the agency’s online measles tracker after questioning whether the virus contributed to the deaths, according to a new report.
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virus → ask → report
CDC staffers had accepted the state’s characterization of the deaths as linked to measles before recently-appointed Director Erica Schwartz ordered the removal, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
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Reuters → accept → matter
A Health and Human Services spokesperson told Reuters the CDC had requested details needed to determine the cause of the deaths but did not comment on Kennedy's or Schwartz’s reported actions.
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CDC → tell → actions
The Independent has contacted HHS for comment on the report.
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Independent → contact → report
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.”
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it → tell → case
Diamantoni contested the cause of one of the deaths reported by the department last month.
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Diamantoni → contest → department
He told WGAL that a ruptured the spleen of a newborn infected with measles was the actual cause of death.
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spleen → tell → death
That drew outrage from doctors including Philadelphia pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, who told The Independent not saying the cause of death was measles was “absurd.”
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cause → draw → death
The Independent has contacted Diamantoni for comment on the measles deaths, Pennsylvania’s first in 35 years.
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Independent → contact → years
The CDC told The Independent earlier this week that the agency was unable to confirm the deaths as from measles based on the information available to the agency.
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agency → tell → agency
The CDC has not said what information it will rely on to determine whether the Pennsylvania deaths were caused by measles.
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deaths → say → measles
Measles causes brain-swelling, fever and pneumonia, with the majority of infections in people who have not been vaccinated.
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who → cause → people
Two doses of the MMR vaccine - which also protects against the mumps and rubella - are 97 percent effective against infection, offering lifelong protection, according to the CDC.
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which → protect → CDC
The nation’s ongoing resurgence in measles cases is fueled by rising vaccine hesitancy spurred by misinformation, experts previously toldThe Independent
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experts → fuel → Independent
Figures from the CDC and state agencies show that vaccination rates have been falling since before the pandemic.
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rates → show → pandemic
Pennsylvania is one of the states with the highest number of cases, CDC data last updated August 30 shows.
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data → update → cases
The state reported 540 cases on Tuesday, with 242 in Lancaster County alone.
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state → report → County
