The Trump administration has modified its approach to tracking measles deaths, shifting from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System to data provided by the National Center for Health Statistics, according to a change announced on 4 September. The alteration coincides with an outbreak in Pennsylvania, where local authorities have reported three deaths potentially linked to measles.
A former CDC chief medical officer characterized the change as unexplained and problematic. The previous system collected mortality data reported directly from local jurisdictions and states to federal health authorities, whereas the new system focuses on broader mortality trend analysis rather than confirming individual cases. The CDC now states it will only report measles deaths once the National Center for Health Statistics identifies measles as the underlying cause. The health department spokesperson emphasized that the CDC’s recommendation regarding the MMR vaccine has not changed and remains the agency’s position on measles prevention.
Official counts in Pennsylvania include two confirmed measles-related deaths earlier in the year involving a newborn and a six-week-old infant. A third death reported on Sunday involved a 40-year-old unvaccinated woman in Jefferson County who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and required continuous oxygen support. The county coroner stated the woman had displayed classic measles symptoms and had contact with a confirmed case, though laboratory confirmation is pending. The coroner indicated the death would be classified as probable measles-related based on the epidemiological connection.
Pennsylvania reported 676 confirmed measles cases as of Friday, though local officials suggest the actual number of infections may be higher. Public health authorities have emphasized the importance of maintaining measles immunization rates of at least 95% to protect vulnerable populations unable to receive vaccines. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not publicly addressed the deaths. Reuters previously reported that Kennedy requested the CDC not count two earlier deaths in its official tally, with the methodology change occurring shortly thereafter.
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