CDC reports second measles death in US, excluding deaths in Pennsylvania | Trump administration

In the United States, a second death from measles was announced Tuesday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the country grapples with an epidemic affecting 47 states.

As of September 24, a total of 3,659 cases of measles have been confirmed by the CDC, with the two deaths confirmed on Tuesday. The confirmation did not specify in which states the deaths occurred.

Although Pennsylvania is the hardest-hit state, with more than 900 cases and four deaths from measles, the CDC does not include deaths in its national data.

The differences between federal measles death figures and those from the Pennsylvania Department of Health are part of an ongoing dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and US Secretary of Health Robert F Kennedy Jr.

The CDC, which previously collected data from states, now uses mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for its national tally of measles deaths.

Pennsylvania also reported 114 new measles cases in the past seven days, a third of which are children under 18 years old. The state also reported 176 hospitalizations, and less than 1% of total measles cases are among people fully vaccinated against the disease.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said, “Although daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers visibility into community transmission across (the state) and helps inform the department’s ongoing response.” »

The United States has recorded more cases of measles this year than any other year since 1991. The disease was declared eliminated by the U.S. government in 2000.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious health complications. And although rare, deaths from measles occur in approximately one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

The announcement also comes as the CDC faces a dramatic reduction in its workforce, with the Trump administration laying off 18% of its staff in 2025.

According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal union representing 82,000 workers, there are 3,810 fewer civil service employees at the CDC over the past year, a total reduction of one-third.

Measles symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after infection, according to the CDC. These symptoms may include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that spreads throughout the body.

The CDC says two doses of the MMR vaccine “provide the best protection against measles.”