The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has excluded two deaths reported by Pennsylvania from its weekly updates of the national measles death tally, according to officials familiar with the matter. The decision to leave the fatalities out of federal data came from new CDC director Erica Schwartz, as reported by the Washington Post.
CDC Director Erica Schwartz Excludes Pennsylvania Deaths From National Tally
The exclusion follows an escalating dispute between federal and state leaders over the state’s disclosure of the first two measles-associated deaths in the United States for 2026. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed the deaths, marking the state’s first fatalities from the illness in 35 years. However, federal officials and local investigators have raised questions regarding the classification of the deaths.
Conflicting Claims Over Infant Death and Coroner Findings
The debate centers largely on the death of an infant in Lancaster County, the epicenter of the nation’s largest current measles outbreak. The baby died of a lacerated spleen, according to Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni. While the infant tested positive for measles and showed evidence of the virus in lung tissue, Diamantoni stated that measles was not a factor because the newborn’s spleen was neither enlarged nor inflamed.
Diamantoni noted that internal hemorrhages and ruptured spleens can be caused by various forces, adding that his office is continuing to investigate. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, noted that congenital measles infection can cause splenic enlargement and thinning of the capsule, making it likely that the child ruptured the spleen during birth.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen defended the state’s reporting, stating that she thoroughly reviewed the case investigation information and confirmed the two measles-associated deaths. State officials maintained that the Department of Health completed its epidemiological investigation before announcing the findings.
Political Clash Between Governor Shapiro and HHS Secretary Kennedy
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro blamed the outbreak and the deaths on a drop in vaccinations and criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading misinformation. Shapiro stated that the deceased individuals were unvaccinated, asserting that there’s real-life consequences for spreading misinformation.
According to CDC data, 92.7% of Pennsylvania kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine before the 2025-26 school year, down from 95.5% a decade earlier.
Kennedy fired back on social media, accusing Pennsylvania of not cooperating with federal agencies and suggesting that the deaths may have been altogether fabricated by one of the governor’s hopeful staffers.
The CDC stated on its official X account that it is working to determine what occurred and backed efforts to clarify conflicting information while offering vaccine prevention messaging support. Medical experts criticized Shapiro for politicizing the tragedy, arguing that a lack of transparency from the state provided an opening for further skepticism.
National Measles Outbreak Data and State Discrepancies
As public health officials debate the toll, national and state measles numbers continue to rise. A delayed CDC weekly report placed the 2026 national total at 2,903 confirmed infections across 45 states, compared to 2,289 total cases in 2025.
Discrepancies remain visible between state and federal figures. The CDC previously listed Pennsylvania’s year-to-date total at 371 cases as of August 21, whereas the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported a total of 497 infections, with Lancaster County accounting for 197 cases. None of the measles cases in Pennsylvania have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals, according to state health dashboard data.
