Coroner releases details of infants who died amid growing Pennsylvania measles outbreak

NEW YORK — The two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania last month involved infants, and the virus itself caused one of the deaths, a Pennsylvania coroner confirmed Wednesday.

Lancaster County’s coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, said he told the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of his conclusions. CDC officials, however, have not said whether they will count either death as measles-associated, and the agency’s website still carries a disclaimer about them.

Ivan Miller died on Aug. 14 shortly after his birth of a ruptured spleen, Diamantoni said.

Mary Stoltzfus was 6 weeks old when she died Aug. 18 at her home. She was born with a genetic birth defect that left her highly vulnerable to an infection. A measles infection killed her, Diamantoni told The Associated Press.

He said he was releasing the information in response to a state right-to-know law request by WPMT-TV, Fox 43.

Diamantoni’s office didn’t perform an autopsy on the girl. The cause of death was determined by the doctors caring for her, he said.

She had been born with a condition called Amish lethal microcephaly that causes an unusually small head and underdeveloped brain. Children with the condition typically live 6 months or less.

His office…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health