CDC Excludes Pennsylvania Measles Deaths Amid Political Dispute

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that its weekly measles update would not list the two measles-associated deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The agency said it lacked sufficient information to determine whether measles caused or contributed to the fatalities. The decision was made by CDC director Dr. Erica Schwartz shortly after she assumed the role in mid-August.

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Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is the state’s first in 35 years and part of a national surge that has pushed case numbers to their highest level in over three decades. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, has accused Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration of “fabricating” the deaths. The controversy reflects ongoing tension between federal and state health officials over disease reporting.

The Independent

• August 25 – Pennsylvania reports two measles-associated deaths; the CDC delays its regular Friday update.

CNN

• Weekend following August 25 – The CDC posts the weekly update with an asterisk and footnote explaining the omission.

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• Mid-August – Dr. Erica Schwartz is confirmed as CDC director and orders the exclusion of the deaths from the national count.

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• Pennsylvania has recorded 460 measles cases, with ?230 confirmed cases in Lancaster County.

The Independent

• Both deceased individuals were unvaccinated and tested positive for measles. One was a newborn with a ruptured spleen; details of the second case remain undisclosed.

The Independent

Pennsylvania press secretary Neil Ruhland said the state “thoroughly reviewed” each case and supplied all required epidemiological data to the CDC.

CNN

Public-health experts called the exclusion a departure from standard protocol. Former CDC chief medical officer Dr. Deb Houry called it “a big deviation in protocol” and noted that similar deaths in Texas and New Mexico were counted while under investigation. Harvard emergency-medicine professor Dr. Jeremy Faust warned the move suggests the CDC may be acting as a “mouthpiece” for political leadership rather than an independent scientific authority.

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Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamontoni is investigating the newborn’s death, stating the spleen was “neither enlarged nor inflamed” and that the rupture may not be related to measles. The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains that the infant tested positive for measles virus in lung tissue, indicating maternal transmission before birth. The CDC has not confirmed either cause, leaving the national tally unchanged.

The Independent

The exclusion raises questions about the reliability of national disease surveillance during a major outbreak. Accurate death counts are essential for assessing measles severity, allocating resources, and guiding vaccination campaigns. Disputes over data can erode public confidence and hinder coordination across states.

CNN

• “CDC has a responsibility to ensure its reporting accurately and transparently reflects what is known and what remains unconfirmed,” — Grace Davis Jamison, CDC spokesperson

The Independent

• “This is a big deviation in protocol,” — Dr. Deb Houry, former CDC chief medical officer

CNN

The CDC says it will update the national measles death count once additional information becomes available, but no deadline has been set.

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