Politics
CDC excludes Pennsylvania cases from national measles death tally after federal dispute
Federal health officials declined to include two state-reported deaths amid a dispute over whether the virus directly caused or contributed to the fatalities.
The short version
- Pennsylvania health officials reported two 'measles-associated deaths' in unvaccinated Lancaster County residents, marking the first such reported deaths in the U.S. in 2026.
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned the state's announcement and suggested the reports might be fabricated, pointing to differing terminology from a local coroner.
- The CDC altered its national surveillance data to exclude the two deaths, stating current information does not establish whether measles was a direct cause, departing from standard reporting precedent.
- Federal health officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding the deaths while national measles cases surpass 2,900 for the year.
Key facts
- Pennsylvania's Department of Health announced two measles-associated deaths on August 25 involving unvaccinated Lancaster County residents, including a newborn.[PBS NewsHour]
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly questioned the reports, describing them as potentially 'fabricated' and arguing the deaths were not proven to be caused by measles.[PBS NewsHour]
- Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni reported that the infant's direct cause of death was a ruptured spleen, though measles was listed as a contributing condition on the death certificate.[PBS NewsHour]
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health defended its classification, stating 'measles-associated' applies to confirmed positive infections during epidemiological investigations, even if measles is not certified as the immediate cause of death.[PBS NewsHour]
- The CDC updated its national dashboard on August 30 to list total 2026 measles deaths as two before removing the count hours later and replacing it with an explanatory note excluding the Pennsylvania cases.[Ars Technica]
- The CDC's decision to override state determinations departs from the standard public health precedent where state health departments serve as the primary arbiters of case and death counts.[Ars Technica]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the CDC will ultimately include the two fatalities in official federal records following its ongoing review of the circumstances and causes of death.[PBS NewsHour · Ars Technica]
- The specific details and cause of death regarding the second deceased individual in Lancaster County, about whom health officials have not publicly released identifying information.[PBS NewsHour]