A newborn and child reportedly died of measles; CDC isn't counting them
Historically, state health departments determine cases and deaths, not the CDC.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has decided to exclude two measles deaths reported by Pennsylvania health officials from its latest national measles data update. This decision marks a significant departure from the traditional role of states in determining case and death outcomes in such matters. The New York Times revealed that CDC's newly appointed director, Erica Schwartz, is the driving force behind this unprecedented move.
Less than a month into her position, Schwartz reportedly instructed CDC staff to add a new disclaimer to the CDC's measles surveillance data website. The statement on the website clarifies that the update will not include the deaths reported by Pennsylvania, explaining that at present, there is insufficient evidence to confirm if measles directly caused or contributed to the deaths, or if the individuals passed away from other causes while infected with measles.
The Washington Post revealed that the CDC's website information underwent multiple changes over the weekend, initially listing 0 measles deaths for 2026, then altering it to 2 deaths on August 30, and finally removing the two deaths and replacing them with an asterisk and a statement noting that health departments determine measles-associated deaths and share relevant information with the CDC.
This situation underscores the complex relationship between state and federal agencies in handling public health crises and data reporting.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
