Shapiro dismisses ‘online conspiracy theories’ about contested measles deaths

(The Center Square) — Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday he won’t engage with “online conspiracy theories” about what the Department of Health is classifying as two “measles-associated deaths.”His comments come one day after Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni told multiple media outlets that one of the victims, a newborn baby, died from blood loss related to a ruptured spleen. Although the infant tested positive for measles antibodies, he concluded that the organ showed no “swelling or enlargement” attributable to the virus.
There’s been no information released about the second death. The Center Square’s attempts to reach Diamantoni were unsuccessful.
During a news conference Friday, Shapiro doubled down on the department’s classification of the deaths as measles-related saying, “the Department of Health has made clear that they’ve shared all the information that they are permitted under state law to share, and that those two deaths were measles related.”
Backlash was sparked Tuesday after Shapiro announced the deaths as a news conference, where he blasted U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. for rhetoric and directives that he says have lowered Americans’ trust in vaccinations.
The MMR vaccine — which stands for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella — isn’t administered until infants are at least one year old. An early dose, between 6 and 11 months, is only recommended when active cases exist. A second dose is given before starting elementary school.
“I don’t think it serves the interest of public health or slows the spread of this outbreak for me to get into a back-and-forth about conspiracy theories that are showing up online,” Shapiro said in response to questions about pushback on the announcement. “I got a serious job to do for the people of Pennsylvania, and that job at this moment requires me to do a whole bunch of things, including trying to find ways to stop the spread of this measles outbreak.”
The governor pointed to updated statistics released Friday that show active cases have now been reported in 31 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Since his Tuesday press conference, “about” 70 more people have been diagnosed, bringing the statewide total to “more than” 445.

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