Measles cases hit 4,588

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logged 178 new measles cases in the United States this week.

The federal tally for 2026 now stands at 4,588 infections as of Friday, a figure that exceeds the total for the previous year by more than double. At least 43 separate outbreaks remain active across the country.

Pennsylvania continues to report the highest number of cases, with 1,338 infections recorded on the same day. South Carolina and Utah also report large clusters, with each state logging more than 500 cases.

State and federal death counts currently diverge. Pennsylvania authorities have confirmed five deaths related to measles and are investigating a sixth. The CDC has reported three national deaths but has not specified the location of the third case. This lack of clarity obscures whether the federal count includes a death from Pennsylvania or another state.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, reportedly asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one measles death from the official tally. He questioned whether the disease contributed to the death, according to reports from Reuters.

The agency faces criticism for its transparency while implementing new rules for vaccine injury reporting. The Department of Health and Human Services announced changes to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, which will allow doctors to bill for reporting suspected injuries.

Kennedy fired all 17 members of the expert panel that previously reviewed vaccine risks and benefits. A court blocked the appointment of his replacements in March. He has also claimed that children receive over 90 vaccine doses and that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine contains aborted fetal debris.