RFK Jr. Concedes Pennsylvania Infant’s Death Was Caused by Measles, Slams Governor’s Politicizing of Tragedy

On Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finally put the nail in the coffin: the six‑week‑old infant who died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, succumbed to measles. The confirmation came from the county coroner, Stephen Diamantoni, who posted the findings after a thorough review of the baby’s medical records.

The child was born with Amish lethal microcephaly—a rare, devastating genetic disorder that leaves infants especially vulnerable to infections. While the disorder itself is fatal within months, the coroner’s report made it clear that measles was the immediate cause of death in this particular case.

Kennedy had been vocal earlier this month, questioning whether measles really caused the two infant deaths reported by Pennsylvania’s health department. He even urged the CDC to strip the cases from its national tally, suggesting the data were being “politicized” before the science was solid.

Governor Josh Shapiro (D‑PA) fired back on social media, accusing Kennedy of directing the CDC to ignore the deaths and of sowing doubt for political gain. “Instead of listening to real doctors and public‑health experts, RFK chose to play politics and even accused me of fabricating these tragedies,” Shapiro wrote.

Kennedy’s response was swift. “The facts emerging now demonstrate why the CDC waited for evidence rather than allowing political grandstanding to dictate its reporting,” he posted. “Governor Shapiro, by contrast, politicized these two tragic deaths before the underlying causes had been established.”

Pennsylvania officials had earlier announced that two unvaccinated individuals—both infants—had died amid a measles outbreak that has so far infected 577 people and landed 98 in hospitals. The first infant’s death was ruled a result of a ruptured spleen, not measles. The second, the six‑week‑old, was definitively linked to measles by the coroner.

As of now, the National Center for Health Statistics shows no 2026 measles‑related death records, but the agency said it will update its database as new information is received. Kennedy emphasized that the CDC will continue to adjust its figures as more evidence comes in.

The episode underscores the tense back‑and‑forth between public‑health officials and elected leaders in a state wrestling with a resurgence of a vaccine‑preventable disease. Whether the disagreement will shape future reporting practices—or merely fade as another political spat—remains to be seen.