Pennsylvania measles outbreak reaches 577 cases after infant death

The Lancaster County coroner has ruled that a six-week-old Amish infant died of measles. The infant suffered from Amish lethal microcephaly, a genetic condition that leaves babies with underdeveloped brains and makes them highly susceptible to fatal respiratory infections.

This death occurs amidst a significant measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, which has reached 577 confirmed cases across 37 counties. According to the state Department of Health, 98 people have been hospitalized, and every confirmed case involves an individual who had not received both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine.

The ruling follows a period of debate between state and federal officials regarding the classification of measles-related deaths. While the Pennsylvania Department of Health has categorized certain deaths as ‘associated with measles’ based on laboratory or epidemiological evidence, the official cause of death remains a point of discussion between local coroners and health agencies.