Key Facts

• Pennsylvania health officials initially reported two measles deaths, a newborn and a child, both unvaccinated.
• The CDC’s new director, Erica Schwartz, decided not to include these deaths in national measles data, citing unclear cause of death.
• The CDC website changed measles death numbers multiple times before removing the two deaths and adding a note about uncertain cause.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly questioned the validity of the reported deaths and spread measles misinformation on social media.
• The deaths occurred during a measles outbreak in Lancaster County, where the families involved live, notably in Amish communities.
• A coroner suggested that the newborn’s death was due to a ruptured spleen, not directly caused by measles, but medical experts noted the baby was infected.
• The baby’s mother was severely ill with measles at birth, and the baby was born with a pulse but died shortly after birth.
• Officials have been criticized for not sharing enough details, which has allowed misinformation to spread.