The Trump administration has altered the methodology for counting measles deaths as Pennsylvania experiences an ongoing outbreak that has resulted in three apparent measles-related fatalities reported by state authorities.
The CDC shifted its data source from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on 4 September, according to a notice published on the agency’s website. The NCHS system is designed primarily for analyzing long-term mortality trends rather than confirming individual cases. Debra Houry, former CDC chief medical officer, characterized the change as puzzling and stated it lacks logical justification for tracking disease deaths. Under the new methodology, the CDC reports that the NCHS currently has no death records from 2026 indicating measles as the underlying cause.
Pennsylvania health officials have documented two confirmed measles deaths this year involving a newborn and a six-week-old infant. A third death involving a 40-year-old unvaccinated woman from Jefferson County was reported Sunday by county coroner Greg Furlong. The woman had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring continuous oxygen support and exhibited classic measles symptoms; she had close contact with someone who tested positive for measles. Furlong stated the woman would not have died without the measles infection despite her underlying conditions. A nasal swab is pending testing results, and the death will be classified as probable measles-related based on the epidemiological connection to a confirmed case.
Furlong emphasized that maintaining a 95% measles immunization rate is critical for protecting vulnerable populations unable to receive vaccines, including infants under six months and pregnant individuals. As of Friday, Pennsylvania had recorded 676 confirmed measles cases, though Furlong indicated the official count likely underestimates actual infections. The change in death counting methodology has drawn scrutiny, with reports indicating HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously requested that the CDC director not count earlier deaths in official tallies. Kennedy, who formerly led the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, has made unsubstantiated claims about the earlier deaths and has a history of spreading vaccine misinformation. An HHS spokesperson reaffirmed that the CDC’s MMR vaccine recommendation remains unchanged and that vaccination is the most effective measles prevention method.
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