Why the CDC is excluding measles deaths in Pennsylvania even as outbreak appears to be ‘accelerating’

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Published: 2026-09-22T11:25:54.665Z • Permanent link

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials are under scrutiny for refusing to count four measles deaths in Pennsylvania, despite a growing outbreak that appears to be accelerating. The decision has sparked outrage among public health experts and lawmakers, who argue that the CDC's stance is at odds with the latest data. According to data released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there have been 154 confirmed measles cases in the state so far this year, with the number of cases increasing by 30% over the past month. Dr. Allison Duda, Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, has expressed concern over the rising number of cases, stating that the outbreak is "unprecedented" and "requires immediate attention.

CDC officials, however, maintain that the number of deaths is not sufficient to warrant a change in their reporting practices. According to CDC spokesperson, Emily Wurfel, the agency has a "clear and consistent" approach to reporting measles cases, and any changes would require a thorough review of the data. Wurfel pointed to the CDC's website, which states that the agency only reports " confirmed" measles cases, and notes that the number of deaths reported by the agency is typically lower than the actual number of cases. Critics argue, however, that this approach is misleading and fails to provide a clear picture of the true impact of the outbreak.

The CDC's decision has also been criticized by lawmakers, who argue that the agency is not doing enough to contain the outbreak. Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has called on the CDC to reconsider its reporting practices, stating that the agency has a "moral obligation" to provide accurate information about the outbreak. The CDC has been under pressure to respond to the growing outbreak, which has been fueled by the rise of measles cases in other parts of the country. In March, the CDC reported a 21% increase in measles cases in the US, with cases reported in 22 states.

The CDC's decision to exclude measles deaths from its reporting practices has significant implications for public health research and policy. The CDC is a key source of data for researchers and policymakers, and its reporting practices can have a major impact on the way that the disease is understood and addressed. By excluding measles deaths from its reporting practices, the CDC may be depriving researchers and policymakers of critical information that could help to inform public health policy. For example, researchers may be unable to study the impact of the outbreak on certain populations, such as children and pregnant women, without access to accurate data on the number of deaths.

The CDC's decision also has implications for the pharmaceutical industry, which produces vaccines against measles and other diseases. The CDC's reporting practices can influence the demand for vaccines, and by excluding measles deaths from its reporting practices, the CDC may be reducing the incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in measles vaccine research and development. Furthermore, the CDC's decision may also have implications for the development of new treatments and interventions for measles, as researchers may be less likely to invest in these efforts if they are unable to access accurate data on the number of deaths.

The CDC's decision to exclude measles deaths from its reporting practices is part of a larger pattern of tension between the agency and lawmakers over the reporting of infectious disease data. In recent years, there have been several instances of the CDC and lawmakers disagreeing over the agency's reporting practices, including the reporting of Ebola cases during the 2014 outbreak. The CDC has also faced criticism for its handling of other infectious disease outbreaks, including the Zika virus and the COVID-19 pandemic.