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CDC Confirms Measles Death After Pennsylvania Reporting Dispute
The CDC confirmed that one person in Pennsylvania died from measles this year.
Pennsylvania has reported four measles-related deaths overall.
The CDC had not counted the deaths at first because officials were still working on a standard definition.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned Pennsylvania’s earlier reports.
Governor Josh Shapiro said this could make people distrust vaccines.
The CDC later said measles was listed as the underlying cause of one death.
Pennsylvania’s outbreak has reached 835 cases, and 164 people have been hospitalized.
Health officials say the two-dose MMR vaccine is the best protection against measles.
The CDC added one Pennsylvania measles-related death to its 2026 dashboard after previously excluding the state’s reported fatalities.
Pennsylvania has reported four measles-related deaths this year, while the CDC has confirmed one so far.
The CDC said the National Center for Health Statistics verified that measles was the underlying cause of the confirmed death.
The dispute involved Pennsylvania officials, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Governor Josh Shapiro over how measles deaths should be defined.
The United States has recorded 3,471 measles cases in 2026, including 835 cases and 164 hospitalizations in Pennsylvania.
- Who
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania health officials, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Governor Josh Shapiro are central to the dispute.
- What
- The CDC confirmed and added one Pennsylvania measles-related death to its 2026 dashboard after a disagreement over reported fatalities.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Pennsylvania and the United States, including the CDC in Atlanta.
- When
- The CDC updated its dashboard on Wednesday; Pennsylvania reported the deaths during the summer, with related developments continuing through September.
- Why
- The CDC said it was verifying whether measles was the underlying cause of death while working toward a standardized definition of a measles death.
Pennsylvania’s account
Federal agencies’ account
Whether the reported deaths should be counted
Pennsylvania’s account
Pennsylvania reported four measles-related deaths and said information about them should be communicated transparently and accurately.
Federal agencies’ account
The CDC initially withheld the deaths while working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists on a standard definition; it later verified one death through the National Center for Health Statistics.
Political and public-health dispute
Pennsylvania’s account
Governor Josh Shapiro blamed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for sowing distrust in vaccines after he questioned Pennsylvania’s reported deaths.
Federal agencies’ account
Kennedy questioned the initial death reports, while a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the agency would not submit to political blackmail over public-health assistance.
Federal outbreak assistance
Pennsylvania’s account
Pennsylvania said it might rescind its Epi-Aid request if the CDC could not communicate accurately and transparently about the deaths.
Federal agencies’ account
Federal officials said the agency would not condition critical public-health aid on what they characterized as political pressure; discussions about assistance continued.
Key facts
- CDC-confirmed deaths
- One measles-related death was added to the CDC’s 2026 dashboard.
- Pennsylvania-reported deaths
- Pennsylvania has reported four measles-related deaths this year.
- US measles cases
- The United States has reported 3,471 cases through Sept. 17, 2026.
- Pennsylvania outbreak
- Pennsylvania has recorded 835 cases and 164 hospitalizations.
- Vaccination finding
- Less than 1% of Pennsylvania’s confirmed cases occurred in people fully vaccinated against measles.
- Federal assistance request
- Pennsylvania requested the CDC’s Epi-Aid on Sept. 16; discussions were still ongoing as of Sept. 22.
- Previous Pennsylvania death
- The state had not recorded a measles-related death in 35 years before this summer.
Quotes
Emily Hilliard
Spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Human Services
“Through its standard process, NCHS verified that the death occurred and that measles was listed as the underlying cause of death.”
livemint.com
Sources
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