CDC removes two Pennsylvania measles deaths from national tally after review
The U.S. health secretary directed the CDC to exclude two Pennsylvania deaths from its measles count, citing uncertainty over whether the fatalities were caused by the disease.
The U.S. health secretary instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to delete two deaths reported in Pennsylvania from its measles mortality tally after a review raised questions about the cause of death. State officials said a county coroner believed a newborn's death, initially linked to measles, resulted from a ruptured spleen rather than the infection. The Pennsylvania health secretary said the agency had "thoroughly investigated and verified" that both individuals had tested positive for measles.
The decision follows criticism from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who said the administration's actions were harming communities. He told reporters he was blunt with the health secretary about the impact of the rhetoric surrounding the outbreak.
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement expressing condolences and noting that the CDC is working with state and local health departments to strengthen response efforts and advise the public on measures to slow transmission. The statement reiterated that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides the most effective protection against the disease.
U.S. measles cases have exceeded 2,900 this year, surpassing the total reported for all of 2025, according to federal data. Pennsylvania alone has recorded 540 cases to date.