Coroner Identifies Ruptured Spleen as Cause of Infant's Death

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- A coroner in Pennsylvania has identified a ruptured spleen as the cause of death for an infant whose case state health officials previously associated with measles.

The Pennsylvania Health Department announced on May 24 that an infant's death was associated with measles. That announcement did not specify a direct cause of death.

Following that announcement, the Lehigh County coroner, Daniel Buglio, stated on May 27 that he did not consider measles to be the cause of the infant's death. Buglio confirmed the infant died from a ruptured spleen.

The health department's initial statement linked the infant's death to the presence of measles. Buglio's subsequent finding provided a specific medical cause of death for the infant.