Pennsylvania's health secretary says she can confirm two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County
Pennsylvania Department of HealthPennsylvania Department of Health, quoting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen in a post on X
Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen says she has reviewed the case investigation information and can confirm two recent measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, which the department reported to the CDC's measles response team.
“As a pediatrician with more than 30 years of caring for children, I have thoroughly reviewed the case investigation information and sadly can confirm that there were two recent measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, which were reported to the CDC's measles response team early Tuesday morning.”
Original post
Original post
Where this statement fits
RFK Jr. suggests Pennsylvania's measles deaths may have been fabricated; Shapiro says he sowed doubt and kept them off the CDC count
On August 25, 2026, Pennsylvania's Department of Health announced the state's first two measles-associated deaths in 35 years, both in Lancaster County, and Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Trump administration's rhetoric was hurting communities. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the next day that the announcement appeared premature and that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the governor's staffers. The state health secretary said she had confirmed both deaths, and the CDC left them out of its weekly measles update while it reviewed them. After the county coroner said measles caused one infant's death, Kennedy said the finding showed why the CDC had waited for evidence. Shapiro said Kennedy had sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge the deaths.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Post on the Pennsylvania Department of Health's X account quoting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, posted as a reply to Secretary Kennedy's post. She says the department verified that both people tested positive for measles.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original post
About this source
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s post on X, quoting a Lancaster County commissioner's post. Kennedy criticizes Gov. Josh Shapiro's announcement of two measles deaths and says the deaths may have been fabricated by a member of the governor's staff.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Earlier on August 26, Kennedy posted that the announcement appeared premature and that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the governor's staffers. The department's post quotes his post.
After the quotation
The statement says the department's epidemiology team verified that both people tested positive for measles, that state law does not require the department to report deaths to coroners, and that its staff meet regularly with CDC professional staff.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns Secretary Kennedy's response to Pennsylvania's reported measles deaths, including his suggestion that they may have been fabricated and the CDC's decision to leave them out of its count. Bogen's statement, posted in reply to Kennedy, confirms the deaths and describes how they were verified, which challenges his account of them.
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- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
More from this case
Read the full caseKerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines
“Yeah, I think absolutely, his messaging on vaccine skepticism has 100% contributed to people not taking their vaccines.”Read statement
Shapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths
“Then, instead of listening to the real doctors and public health experts, RFK chose to sow doubt, play politics, direct the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths, and even accuse me of fabricating these tragedies.”Read statement
HHS says the CDC's reporting must separate what is known from what is unconfirmed
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“CDC has a responsibility to ensure its reporting accurately distinguishes between what is known and what remains unconfirmed”Read statement
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- Pennsylvania's health secretary says she can confirm two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County
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The Dispute Index. "Pennsylvania's health secretary says she can confirm two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7437-health-secretary-dr-debra-bogen-says-she-has