Pennsylvania County Official Questions Shapiro’s Measles Death Announcement as RFK Jr. Weighs In

A Lancaster County commissioner is challenging Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s characterization of two measles-associated deaths announced this week, intensifying a dispute with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the state confronts a growing outbreak now totaling 460 confirmed cases spanning 31 counties.

Joshua Parsons, a Lancaster County commissioner, contended that Shapiro’s framing during a Tuesday press conference was deliberately misleading. While officials used the term “measles-associated,” Parsons argued the presentation implied these were direct deaths from measles. He told Fox News Digital that conversations with the county coroner revealed zero measles deaths reported in Lancaster County this year.

During his announcement at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Hospital, Shapiro emphasized the preventable nature of measles-related illness and death, noting these were the first such cases the state had recorded in 35 years. He strongly urged Pennsylvanians to pursue measles vaccination, stressing the disease poses no threat when immunization rates are adequate.

The county coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamoantoni, stated publicly he had not been contacted by Shapiro or the Pennsylvania Department of Health before the press conference and learned of it through media reports. Parsons noted that one documented case involved an infant who died at home birth with measles present but identified lacerated spleen as the cause of death.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health responded by clarifying that “measles-associated” means laboratory or epidemiologic evidence of measles exists, not necessarily that the disease caused death. Both cases involved positive measles tests, but the department noted the medical certifier or coroner may not identify measles as the immediate cause.

Parsons raised questions about a second death mentioned by state officials, noting that Pennsylvania law requires infectious disease deaths to be reported to county coroners. He suggested either the second person died outside Lancaster County or additional clarification was warranted from state health authorities.

Kennedy criticized Shapiro’s announcement in a Wednesday post on X, characterizing it as political theater that replayed “COVID playbook” tactics including fearmongering and misinformation. Kennedy alleged the deaths may have been fabricated and cited the coroner’s assertion of no measles deaths on record.

According to The Washington Post, Shapiro and Kennedy had a contentious phone call minutes before the Tuesday announcement, with Shapiro reportedly declining federal assistance for the outbreak response. The current outbreak represents the nation’s largest measles crisis since 1991, according to CDC data.

Parsons noted that vaccination remains an individual choice and that much of the outbreak centers on religious communities, including Amish and Mennonite populations, where immunization rates are lower. He emphasized that while measles cases exist across multiple Pennsylvania counties, affected communities are continuing their normal activities.

Shapiro’s office deferred questions to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for further comment. The New York Times, which initially reported the deaths as occurring “from measles,” stands by its story’s accuracy, according to a spokesman.