Gov. Josh Shapiro Calls On CDC To Recognize Measles-Associated Deaths In Pa. Outbreak
Two more people have died in Pennsylvania’s growing measles outbreak, bringing the total number of measles-related deaths to four — but, a public federal dashboard still shows no measles deaths so far this year.
When asked if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will record the two new deaths on its measles dashboard, a spokesperson said in an email to WPSU that the agency is in touch with state officials about the deaths and has offered to provide on-the-ground help with the outbreak.
Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke Wednesday night on CNN’s “The Source,” and called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update their public dashboard before Pennsylvania accepts federal help.
“I'm not going to accept that until RFK does what is right and stops reaching down into his administration and directing the CDC staff not to acknowledge the pain and suffering of these four families in Pennsylvania and acknowledge those deaths," Shapiro said.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health say there are now four measles-related deaths in the state.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health say there are now four measles-related deaths in the state.
Shapiro said in a social media post Tuesday that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "personally intervened in an otherwise administrative process to direct the CDC to not report these Pennsylvania deaths."
Kennedy denied that claim and said the CDC is using its own standard for what counts as "measles-caused deaths."
In late August, the state announced its first two measles-associated deaths. At the time, Kennedy questioned whether the deaths actually happened.
Lancaster County’s coroner later confirmed both deaths, and said they involved infants who had measles.
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