Public health experts question CDC data reliability amid measles surge and upcoming flu season

Public health officials warned that recent actions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could erode confidence in federal health data. The agency removed two Pennsylvania measles deaths from its website after the state and the Department of Health and Human Services questioned the classifications, prompting criticism from former CDC leaders.

"Red flag. Red alert," said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who resigned from the CDC last year citing political interference. He said the agency’s decision to dispute state determinations of cause of death was "highly problematic" and "dangerous."

Dr. Anne Zink, a senior fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, noted that the episode highlights a broader breakdown in coordination and trust between state and federal health authorities, a trend she said has intensified with recent measles cases.

The controversy has raised broader concerns about the reliability of national data on other infectious diseases, including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. Dr. Georges Benjamin, head of the American Public Health Association, warned that compromised data could leave the public uncertain about how to respond to outbreaks.

The situation also puts pressure on the CDC’s new director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, who assumed the role after a period of internal turmoil. Critics, including Dr. Daskalakis, described the agency as "compromised" and suggested the director has not yet demonstrated resistance to political pressure.

"What the director should be doing instead of looking into these disease counts is responding to the outbreak itself," said Dr. Debra Houry, a former CDC chief medical officer. She called for public communication on vaccination efforts as schools reopen across the country.