Key facts
- The CDC confirmed a second national measles death on Tuesday.
- As of September 24, the US has confirmed 3,659 measles cases.
- Pennsylvania has reported over 900 measles cases and four deaths.
- The CDC is not including Pennsylvania's reported measles deaths in its national figures.
- The US has recorded more measles cases this year than in any year since 1991.
- Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000.
The US has confirmed a second national death due to measles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the country grapples with an outbreak that has affected 47 states. As of September 24, a total of 3,659 measles cases have been confirmed nationwide. However, the CDC's national death toll does not include four deaths reported in Pennsylvania, which is the hardest-hit state with over 900 cases. This discrepancy is part of an ongoing dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The CDC has shifted to using mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for its national measles death count, a change from its previous practice of collecting data directly from states. Pennsylvania reported 114 new measles cases in the last seven days, with a third affecting children under 18. The state has also recorded 176 hospitalizations, and less than 1% of its total cases involve individuals who have been fully vaccinated.
The US has now recorded more measles cases this year than in any year since 1991, despite the disease being declared eliminated by the government in 2000. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious health complications, with deaths occurring in approximately one to three out of every 1,000 cases. The announcement comes as the CDC has reportedly faced a significant reduction in its workforce, with the American Federation of Government Employees stating there are 3,810 fewer civil service employees at the agency in the past year, a reduction of one-third.