Measles Outbreak Sparks Health Divide | Charleston News

Pennsylvania’s deadly measles outbreak, now claiming two lives and spreading across 28 counties, has ignited a bitter clash between Governor Josh Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shapiro blames Kennedy and the prior administration for eroding vaccine confidence, while Kennedy counters that Pennsylvania is resisting CDC cooperation and insists U.S. measles numbers remain far lower than in global peers like Mexico and Britain. Their feud escalated after a tense phone call, with Kennedy alleging Shapiro admitted to falling vaccination rates under Biden — a claim Shapiro denies, accusing Kennedy of peddling conspiracy theories including false claims about fetal tissue in vaccines and invoking controversial research by MMR inventor Stanley Plotkin. Shapiro dismissed Kennedy’s “support” as harmful misinformation, noting measles was nearly eradicated nationally before Kennedy took office — a stark contrast to today’s surge in Pennsylvania. As cases climb and public trust fractures, the lack of federal-state coordination threatens to deepen the crisis. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cdb9b2fc7af951fe