Home · Health · Sep 30 archive
CDC Lags Behind Pennsylvania in Measles Death Count
Confirmed
In Short: The CDC has updated its website to show two measles deaths in the U.S., but Pennsylvania officials count four.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its website to show two measles deaths in the U.S., but Pennsylvania officials count four measles-related deaths in the state.
According to Pennsylvania health officials, a 40-year-old woman and two infants have died from measles-related illnesses in recent weeks.
The CDC, however, has not been notified by Pennsylvania officials of the latest death, suggesting a discrepancy in reporting.
In a statement, CDC Director Erica Schwartz said the agency had not been informed of the latest death and suggested Pennsylvania has yet to take advantage of repeated offers from the CDC to provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support.
Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a large measles outbreak, with 676 recorded cases as of Friday.
The two previous deaths in the state were in babies.
The CDC has recognized only two deaths associated with measles this year, though it hasn’t identified which states they occurred in or when.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the death of an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County who tested positive for measles.
Two infants with measles in Lancaster County have died, and at least six babies have been born with congenital measles in the state.
Professional wrestling is mourning the death of Andy Williams, best known as “The Butcher,” who died at the age of 48 after collapsing following a wrestling match in Pennsylvania.
A recent First Opinion essay explains the key difference between “dying from” a disease and “dying with” one, including a helpful explanation of how death certificates work.
The Trump administration is seeking to lower Medicare drug costs as part of its “most-favored nation” pricing policy.
What this adds
The CDC's exclusion of two measles deaths reported by Pennsylvania health officials from its latest update of national measles data highlights the discrepancy in reporting between state and federal health agencies.
The CDC's statement suggests that Pennsylvania may need to improve its communication with federal health agencies to ensure accurate and timely reporting of public health data.
Background
The CDC has updated its website to show two measles deaths in the U.S., but Pennsylvania officials count four.
What's confirmed
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its website to show two measles deaths in the U.S., but Pennsylvania officials count four measles-related deaths in the state.
- According to Pennsylvania health officials, a 40-year-old woman and two infants have died from measles-related illnesses in recent weeks.
- The CDC, however, has not been notified by Pennsylvania officials of the latest death, suggesting a discrepancy in reporting.
- In a statement, CDC Director Erica Schwartz said the agency had not been informed of the latest death and suggested Pennsylvania has yet to take advantage of repeated offers from the CDC to provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support.
- Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a large measles outbreak, with 676 recorded cases as of Friday.
- The two previous deaths in the state were in babies.
- The CDC has recognized only two deaths associated with measles this year, though it hasn’t identified which states they occurred in or when.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the death of an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County who tested positive for measles.
- Two infants with measles in Lancaster County have died, and at least six babies have been born with congenital measles in the state.
- Professional wrestling is mourning the death of Andy Williams, best known as “The Butcher,” who died at the age of 48 after collapsing following a wrestling match in Pennsylvania.
- A recent First Opinion essay explains the key difference between “dying from” a disease and “dying with” one, including a helpful explanation of how death certificates work.
- The Trump administration is seeking to lower Medicare drug costs as part of its “most-favored nation” pricing policy.
What's still developing
- As The Washington Post reported yesterday, it’s unclear which of those four the CDC added to its count.
- “If we wanted to be literal about it, the cause of death for nearly everyone would be cardiac arrest, since in the end our hearts stop,” the authors wrote.
- According to the latest survey from UPenn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, 31% of adults believe that Kennedy recommends children be vaccinated against measles.
- Pressure for regulatory action on kratom is mounting after two students at the University of Mississippi died this month, with kratom products found on the scene in both cases. (Authorities have not said that kratom contributed to either death.) The DEA recently proposed temporarily designating a kratom derivative, 7-OH, as Schedule I when above a certain threshold of potency.
- President Donald Trump this week mourned the death of Jim Copenhaver, a rallygoer who was shot during the 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania, event that saw an assassination attempt on the then candidate for president.
- “This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” he said.
- Late Sunday, the CDC appeared to rebuke Pennsylvania’s handling of its measles outbreak.
- Crooks was killed by a secret service sniper at the scene after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- According to the CDC, there have been 3,569 confirmed measles infections nationwide.
- It’s the fifth measles-associated death in the state since August.
- “We are deeply saddened to hear of another death in Pennsylvania,” Emily Hilliard, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement, adding that Health Secretary Robert F.