CDC Rejects Two Measles Deaths Reported in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania reported two measles-related deaths last week: one was a newborn, and the other a child, both unvaccinated and from Lancaster County. The CDC, led by its new director, Erica Schwartz, removed these deaths from its national count, stating that it cannot yet confirm measles caused or contributed to them. The agency even changed its website multiple times over the weekend, first listing the deaths, then removing them with a note questioning their connection to measles.

This unusual move challenges the long-standing practice where states, not the CDC, determine and report death counts. It has also fueled controversy, especially after a coroner suggested measles may not have caused the newborn’s death, despite evidence of infection. Meanwhile, anti-vaccine figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have amplified misinformation, claiming the deaths were “fabricated.”

The lack of transparency from Pennsylvania health officials—who initially refused to release details due to privacy concerns—has left doctors and experts frustrated. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, called a ruptured spleen in a newborn “extremely rare” and noted that measles can cause such complications. The parents of the newborn, who are Amish, firmly believe measles killed their baby.

As measles outbreaks surge in the U.S., this dispute highlights how misinformation and distrust can overshadow public health data, making it harder to understand real risks and protect communities.