Key facts
- CDC reported a third measles death on Wednesday.
- CDC cited privacy laws for not disclosing the state of the death.
- Experts argue that naming the state does not violate privacy.
- US measles cases have grown by 8% in one week to 4,410 this year.
- Pennsylvania has reported five confirmed measles deaths, while the CDC lists three.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a third measles death on Wednesday but declined to specify the state where the fatality occurred, citing privacy laws. Experts, including law professors Dorit Reiss and Lindsay Wiley, argue that this information is not protected by privacy laws and that withholding it hinders public understanding of the accelerating outbreak. The CDC's switch to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for reporting, which is less transparent than previous systems, has also drawn criticism. Pennsylvania has reported five confirmed measles deaths, while the CDC's dashboard lists only three, raising further questions about data accuracy and reporting delays. Experts suggest that the agency's lack of transparency could damage public trust and complicate outbreak response efforts.