Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially acknowledged on Friday that a six-week-old infant in Pennsylvania died due to measles. This confirmation follows a period in which Kennedy had publicly cast doubt on the accuracy of state reports concerning measles-related deaths during the current outbreak. The verification came after Lancaster County coroner Stephen Diamantoni released findings confirming the cause of death.

While Kennedy accepted the medical findings, he simultaneously criticized Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Kennedy argued that Shapiro had acted too hastily in "politicizing" the infant's death for political gain. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between federal health officials and state leaders regarding the management and public communication of the current measles outbreak. While the medical cause of death is now settled by the coroner's report, the disagreement persists over the appropriateness of the governor's initial public response to the tragedy.