PA Commissioner Disputes Governor’s Measles Death Claims Amid RFK Jr. Criticism

A contentious debate has erupted in Pennsylvania over the framing of two recent measles-associated deaths, with a county commissioner directly challenging Governor Josh Shapiro’s statements. The dispute escalates as the state grapples with a significant measles outbreak, now encompassing 460 confirmed cases across 31 counties. Adding to the friction, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also voiced strong criticism of the governor’s approach.

Commissioner Questions Governor’s Narrative

Joshua Parsons, one of the three commissioners in Lancaster County, accused Governor Shapiro of employing deceptive tactics during a press conference earlier this week. Shapiro had announced two “measles-related deaths” in the county, a characterization Parsons argues was misleading. “Well, the governor, in the press conference, they said they were measles-associated deaths, but it was framed, and very much the underlying assertion to it, was that these were measles deaths,” Parsons stated in an interview.

Governor Shapiro, speaking alongside Dr. Debra Bogen at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Hospital, had linked the deaths of two unvaccinated individuals directly to the measles outbreak. “Today, we see the consequences of a lack of immunizations in the first measles-associated deaths that our Commonwealth has seen in 35 years,” Shapiro had declared, urging residents to get vaccinated, emphasizing that “this illness and death from measles is completely preventable.”

Coroner’s Office Denies Measles Deaths

Parsons brought forth claims from conversations with the Lancaster County Coroner, asserting that no one in the county had actually died from measles this year. He highlighted that Pennsylvania law mandates the reporting of deaths from contagious diseases to the county coroner. “The coroner reported that they don’t have… they had zero measles deaths or measles associated-deaths reported. And in Pennsylvania if you have someone who dies of a contagious disease, that does have to be reported to the county coroner,” Parsons explained.

The coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamoantoni, reportedly expressed surprise at the governor’s announcement, stating he had not been contacted by the governor’s office or the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Parsons elaborated on one case involving an infant who died at home during a home birth. While the infant had measles, the coroner and the examining pathologist did not believe measles was the cause of death, attributing it instead to a lacerated spleen. Parsons indicated that the coroner had received no information regarding a second individual mentioned by state officials.

Health Department Clarifies Terminology

In response to the growing controversy, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issued a statement clarifying its use of the term “measles-associated.” The department asserted that it consistently used this phrasing, which signifies the presence of laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles, including a positive measles test. However, it noted that the disease might not be identified as the immediate cause of death by medical certifiers or coroners.

Parsons, however, remained critical, pointing to a statement from the Health Department suggesting that not all deaths require reporting to the coroner. He conceded this is true for natural causes but reiterated that deaths from infectious diseases must be reported. He suggested that if a second death occurred outside the county, that should be disclosed, though he deemed this scenario highly unlikely.

RFK Jr. Criticizes Governor’s ‘Fearmongering’

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not hold back in his criticism of Governor Shapiro’s handling of the situation. He characterized the governor’s press conference as an “unseemly rush” and a “morose commentary on the contemporary political dialogue.” Kennedy accused the administration of employing tactics reminiscent of the “Democrats’ COVID playbook: fearmongering, misinformation, finger-pointing, and the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain.”

Kennedy further alleged that the announcement appeared premature and that the deaths might have been “fabricated,” citing the Lancaster County Coroner’s lack of records and the state’s legal obligation to report such fatalities. Reports also surfaced of a heated phone call between Kennedy and Shapiro just before the governor’s announcement, during which Shapiro reportedly declined federal assistance for the measles outbreak.

Pennsylvania’s Measles Outbreak

As of Friday, Pennsylvania has confirmed 460 measles cases across 31 counties. This outbreak represents the nation’s most significant since 1991, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Pennsylvania Department of Health indicated that a substantial portion of those infected are unvaccinated.

Commissioner Parsons pointed out that many cases are concentrated within specific religious communities, such as the Amish and Mennonite populations, many of whom opt out of vaccinations. “There’s certainly measles here,” Parsons acknowledged. “And a lot of the focus has been on the plain population… Many of them choose not to get vaccinated. And by and large, they’re going about their life and they’re living their life and just continue on. So, we certainly have resources available for people if they wanna get vaccinated, but I believe strongly that’s each individual’s choice,” he concluded.

Shapiro’s office referred inquiries to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, while The New York Times stood by the accuracy of its reporting on the deaths. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services were also contacted for comment.