The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday confirmed a second measles-related death in the United States as the outbreak now spans 47 states.
Outbreak Overview
As of 24 September, the CDC reports 3,659 confirmed measles cases nationwide. The agency said two deaths were confirmed on Tuesday but did not specify the states where those deaths occurred. Pennsylvania—currently the hardest-hit state—has reported more than 900 cases and four deaths, but those state-reported fatalities are not included in the CDC's national death tally.
Why Pennsylvania Deaths Are Excluded
The discrepancy stems from a change in how the CDC compiles national measles mortality figures. Instead of relying on immediate death reports from state health departments, the CDC now uses mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The different counting methods have become part of an ongoing dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
State-Level Details
In the past seven days Pennsylvania reported 114 new cases; about one-third of those new cases were children under 18. The state has recorded 176 hospitalizations so far, and fewer than 1% of reported Pennsylvania cases occurred in people who were fully vaccinated.
Pennsylvania's Department of Health said: "While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the [state] and helps inform the department's ongoing response."
Context And Public Health Guidance
The U.S. has now recorded more measles cases this year than in any year since 1991; measles had been declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe complications; deaths, while uncommon, occur in approximately 1 to 3 patients per 1,000 cases.
Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a spreading rash. The CDC advises that two doses of the MMR vaccine "provide the best protection against measles."
CDC Workforce Notes
The CDC's confirmation of the second death comes amid a substantial reduction in its civil service workforce. According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the agency had about 3,810 fewer civil service employees over the past year, a decrease of roughly one third. The report also notes that 18% of CDC staff were laid off in 2025 under the previous administration.
What To Do: Health officials urge anyone who is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status to consult a healthcare provider about receiving the MMR vaccine. Anyone with measles symptoms should isolate and seek medical advice promptly.
