{
  "id": 5427132,
  "title": "Reports: RFK Jr. ordered measles deaths deletion; CDC still secretly counts them",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/reports-rfk-jr-ordered-measles-deaths-deletion-cdc-still-secretly",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:13:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica Health",
    "slug": "ars-technica-health",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/reports-rfk-jr-ordered-measles-deaths-deletion-cdc-still-secretly-counts-them/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two measles deaths that were initially included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public measles data have mysteriously disappeared, according to two reports. The deletion was ordered directly by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, who instructed the new CDC director, Erica Schwartz, to remove the deaths from the agency's website. Despite CDC staff having already verified that the deaths were indeed linked to measles, Schwartz proceeded with the deletion without any objections. The two deaths, which occurred in Pennsylvania, involved a newborn and a child, and were initially reported on August 30. The state is currently grappling with a significant measles outbreak, with a total of 540 cases, including 119 reported in the last week alone.",
  "summary": "CDC staff had already accepted the measles death reports when RFK Jr. meddled.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica",
        "title": "Reports: RFK Jr. ordered measles deaths deletion; CDC still secretly counts them",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/reports-rfk-jr-ordered-measles-deaths-deletion-cdc-still-secretly-5429576",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:13:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}