On Tuesday, the CDC announced a second measles-related death in the United States, amid an outbreak that has spread to 47 states.
As of September 24, the CDC had recorded 3,659 confirmed measles cases nationwide, including the two fatalities reported on Tuesday; the agency did not disclose the states where these deaths occurred.
Pennsylvania, the state most affected by the outbreak, has reported over 900 cases and four measles deaths, yet the CDC excludes those fatalities from its national tally.
The discrepancy between the CDC’s federal death count and Pennsylvania’s state health data reflects an ongoing disagreement between Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The CDC, which previously gathered state-reported data, now relies on mortality statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for its national measles death figures.
In the past week, Pennsylvania identified 114 new measles cases, about one‑third of which involved children under 18. The state also recorded 176 hospitalizations, and fewer than 1% of its total measles cases occurred in individuals who were fully vaccinated.
Pennsylvania’s health department noted, “Although daily figures vary, monitoring these trends gives residents and healthcare providers insight into community transmission across the state and guides our ongoing response.”
This year, the United States has recorded more measles cases than in any year since 1991, despite the disease having been declared eliminated in 2000.
Measles is a highly contagious virus capable of causing severe health complications. Although fatalities are uncommon, they occur in roughly one to three cases per 1,000 infections.
The announcement coincides with a significant workforce reduction at the CDC, following the Trump administration’s 2025 layoff of approximately 18% of its staff.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 82,000 federal workers, reports that the CDC has lost 3,810 civil service employees over the past year—a reduction of about one‑third.
According to the CDC, measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection, beginning with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that spreads downward.
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine as the most effective protection against measles.