A six-week-old baby girl in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, succumbed to measles, according to the county coroner Stephen Diamantoni, who confirmed the death to local press on Friday.
Diamantoni also revealed that the baby had a genetic condition called Amish lethal microcephaly. This rare condition, caused by a mutation in the SLC25A19 gene, results in unusually small heads and underdeveloped brains, a factor that made the baby’s death even more poignant.
The incident has reignited the debate over vaccine safety, with anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioning the authenticity of state health department reports of measles deaths.
Despite Kennedy’s claims, the Pennsylvania health department and Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that the death was indeed one of the two measles cases they had reported. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination, especially for those with underlying health conditions.
The coroner’s office in Lancaster County also clarified that they rely on state health department reports, adding to the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the reports.
