Lancaster Amish Measles Tragedy Attracts National Spotlight

A The Atlantic profile of an Amish couple in Lancaster County, amid Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak, reports the couple lost a newborn on Aug. 14 (buried Aug. 17) while their 13 other children remain unvaccinated; the mother reportedly had measles, but the coroner says the baby’s death was not caused by measles, instead tied to a spleen laceration, as health officials note over 200 measles cases in the county this year. The family, identified by pseudonyms, says they had little awareness of the ongoing investigation into the death and were surprised by national attention sparked by The Atlantic piece. The article highlights broader political and public-health debates about vaccination in Pennsylvania.