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CDC delays adding two reported Pennsylvania deaths to national measles tally

Federal health officials are reviewing the causes of death as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disputes Pennsylvania's findings.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 22:39 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • The CDC has omitted two measles-associated deaths reported by Pennsylvania from its weekly national counts.
  • CDC Director Erica Schwartz ordered the delay while the agency reviews additional details regarding whether measles caused or contributed to the fatalities.
  • Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested the reported deaths were fabricated, while former public health officials noted that delaying state-reported data is highly unusual.

Key facts

  • The CDC delayed its weekly update and excluded two reported measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania from its national tally, marking the count at zero with an asterisk.[The Washington Post · The Guardian]
  • According to former and current officials speaking anonymously, CDC Director Erica Schwartz made the decision to delay including the Pennsylvania figures.[The Washington Post]
  • Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that the two Pennsylvania deaths were fabricated and stated that there have only been three U.S. measles deaths in 10 years.[The Guardian]
  • Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry stated that state-reported cases are typically accepted without CDC adjudication and noted that three deaths in Texas and New Mexico last year were immediately included in national counts.[The Guardian]
  • An Amish couple in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, reported that their newborn died shortly after birth while the mother was severely ill with measles and went into premature labor.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unverified whether measles directly caused or contributed to the two Pennsylvania deaths or if the individuals died of unrelated causes while infected.[The Guardian]
  • The CDC has not publicly specified what additional medical or case information it requires to finalize its determination.[The Guardian]

Sources