CDC counts 4,588 US measles cases as Pennsylvania death reports diverge

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,588 confirmed cases of measles in the United States as of Friday. This weekly update adds 178 new infections to the 2026 national total, which now exceeds the count from 2025 by more than double. The disease is currently active in at least 43 distinct outbreaks.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in case counts with 1,338 confirmed infections. South Carolina and Utah follow as the other largest affected areas, with both states reporting more than 500 cases each. Health officials note that official tallies likely undercount the true extent of the illness because common symptoms such as rash, fever, and cough do not always prompt patients to seek medical care.

A discrepancy has emerged in mortality data between state and federal records. Pennsylvania authorities reported five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth. In contrast, the CDC has recorded only three deaths nationwide. The agency has not identified the location of the third death, leaving unclear if it overlaps with the state's count.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced scrutiny over how the CDC handles death data. Reuters reported that Kennedy asked senior CDC officials in September to remove a specific measles death from the official tally after questioning whether the disease contributed to the patient's passing. Critics argue this lack of transparency complicates the understanding of the outbreak's severity.

The HHS department announced changes to the vaccine adverse event reporting system this week. A new proposal would allow doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. The system, known as VAERS, has long been used by researchers to track rare safety issues but is frequently cited by anti-vaccine activists to claim safety concerns. Kennedy has since replaced all 17 members of the expert panel that previously evaluated vaccine risks and benefits with ideologically aligned appointees, a move a court blocked in March.

The measles vaccine remains 97% effective at preventing the disease. Unvaccinated individuals face a 1 in 5 chance of hospitalization upon infection, while between one and three people in 1,000 die from disease-related complications.