US health officials exclude measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania from counts
RFK Jr, the health secretary, has suggested the deaths were ‘fabricated’ while the CDC claimed it was reviewing them
TL;DR
- US health officials are not including two recent measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania in their national counts.
- This differs from previous handling of measles deaths, such as three reported in Texas and New Mexico last year.
- CDC has stated it is reviewing additional information regarding the Pennsylvania deaths to determine if measles caused or contributed to them.
- Robert F Kennedy Jr, HHS secretary, suggested the deaths were 'fabricated' and focused on deaths from 'food-induced illness'.
- The CDC's delay in updating its measles death count is unusual and may affect its relationship with state health departments.
- A newborn in Lancaster county, whose mother was severely ill with measles, died shortly after birth.