From ABC News · ABC News · · 1m 20s
A second measles death, and a fight over the count
Pennsylvania's outbreak has passed 676 cases, and federal and state officials cannot agree on how many people have died.
In brief
Pennsylvania's outbreak has passed 676 cases, and federal and state officials cannot agree on how many people have died. Nearly every case in this outbreak is in someone unvaccinated, and the people meant to be coordinating the response are arguing instead. Originally reported by ABC News.
A death in Jefferson County
A 40-year-old woman died Saturday, September 12, from complications of measles. Her county coroner confirmed she was unvaccinated.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the family and an unfortunate reminder that measles can be a serious and potentially life-threatening disease.”
676 cases and climbing
Pennsylvania has logged 676 measles cases, with more than 100 added in a single week. 124 people have been hospitalized.
Almost all unvaccinated
State health data shows nearly every case in the outbreak is in someone who had not been vaccinated against the virus.
Nobody agrees on the death toll
Pennsylvania has reported two measles-associated deaths from this outbreak. The CDC's website, updated Friday, still lists zero for 2026.
The CDC says it wasn't told
Director Erica Schwartz said the agency learned of the Jefferson County death elsewhere, and that Pennsylvania has turned down an Epi-Aid deployment of federal epidemiologists.
“CDC was not notified by Pennsylvania officials of this death.”
A public spat over the data
RFK Jr. said the state refused to share information after the first two deaths. Pennsylvania's Dr. Debra Bogen answered on X that her staff meets with CDC professionals regularly.
“refused to share information”
In short
Nearly every case in this outbreak is in someone unvaccinated, and the people meant to be coordinating the response are arguing instead.
