CDC logs 4,588 US measles cases as Pennsylvania records five deaths
Federal data shows a doubling of cases since 2025, but discrepancies in death counts and recent policy shifts have drawn sharp criticism from health experts.
By Kaito Shevchenko ·
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 178 new measles cases in the United States this week, bringing the 2026 national total to 4,588. This figure is more than double the total recorded for all of 2025. The agency identified at least 43 active outbreaks across the country.
State-level data reveals a sharp divergence from federal figures. Pennsylvania, which has sustained the nation’s largest outbreak for several months, reported 1,338 cases as of Friday. South Carolina and Utah each reported more than 500 cases. Despite the high number of infections in Pennsylvania, the state has recorded five measles-associated deaths and is investigating a sixth.
The CDC has officially logged only three measles deaths in the country. The agency has declined to specify the location of the third death, creating ambiguity about whether it is counting a fatality in Pennsylvania or another state. This discrepancy has fueled criticism regarding the transparency of federal data collection.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has intensified scrutiny of the agency’s methods. According to Reuters, Kennedy asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one death from the official tally after questioning if the disease contributed to the fatal outcome. He also recently overhauled the vaccine safety oversight structure by firing all 17 members of the advisory board that evaluates vaccine risks and benefits.
A federal court blocked the appointment of Kennedy’s replacement board members in March. The secretary has since made several public statements that experts have described as misleading. These claims include suggesting that children receive over 90 vaccine doses and that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine contains aborted fetal debris.
The administration also announced changes to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS. The proposal would allow doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. While researchers use VAERS to track rare safety issues, the system has frequently been cited by anti-vaccine advocates to support unproven claims about vaccine safety. The measles vaccine remains 97% effective at preventing the disease, which has a one in five hospitalization rate among unvaccinated individuals.
Source: The Guardian
