US measles cases reach 4,588 as Pennsylvania death count lags federal data

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,588 measles cases in the United States as of Friday, October 23. This total is more than double the number recorded in 2025. The agency added 178 new cases to the national tally during the week, marking the latest update in a growing outbreak.

Pennsylvania accounts for the largest share of the disease, with 1,338 cases reported on the same date. South Carolina and Utah follow with more than 500 cases each. The CDC confirmed that the virus is currently spreading in at least 43 separate outbreaks across the country.

State and federal records show a discrepancy in how deaths are counted. Pennsylvania health authorities have confirmed five deaths linked to measles and are investigating a sixth. The CDC has recorded three national deaths but has not disclosed the location of the third death. This lack of clarity obscures whether the federal count includes the Pennsylvania fatalities.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one measles death from the official tally. According to Reuters, Kennedy questioned whether the disease contributed to that specific death. The request highlights ongoing tension between the department and the agency regarding data transparency.

The CDC also announced changes to the vaccine adverse event reporting system, or VAERS. Under the new proposal, doctors would be able to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. VAERS has historically been used by researchers to track rare safety issues, though it has also been cited by anti-vaccine groups to raise concerns about vaccine safety.

Kennedy has reshaped the department's vaccine oversight structure since taking office. He fired all 17 members of the expert panel that previously evaluated vaccine changes. A court blocked the appointment of his replacements in March. During his tenure, Kennedy has stated that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine contains aborted fetal debris and that vitamin A and cod liver oil may help children with measles, claims that leading physicians have described as misleading.