4,588 US measles cases logged as state and federal data diverge
The CDC added 178 new infections this week, but officials in Pennsylvania report five deaths while the federal count stands at three.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
US measles cases reached 4,588 on Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 178 new infections this week. The total for 2026 is more than double the tally for 2025.
Outbreaks are active in at least 43 locations. Pennsylvania accounts for 1,338 of the national cases. South Carolina and Utah each report more than 500 cases.
Experts criticize the CDC for a lack of transparency in its reporting. The agency faces scrutiny as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moves to restructure US vaccine infrastructure.
State and federal death counts currently conflict. Pennsylvania authorities have reported five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth. The CDC reports three national deaths. The agency has not disclosed the location of the third death.
Reuters reported that Kennedy asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one measles death from the official tally. He questioned whether the disease contributed to that specific death.
HHS announced changes to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS. The proposal allows doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. The system tracks rare safety issues but has also drawn attention from the anti-vaccine movement.
Kennedy fired all 17 members of the expert panel that evaluated vaccine risks and benefits. A court blocked his replacement appointments in March.
The measles vaccine is 97% effective. It prevents the disease and its complications, which include rash, runny nose, fever, and cough. One in five unvaccinated people who contract the virus is hospitalized. One to three people in 1,000 die from related complications.
