CDC Chief Excludes PA Measles Deaths — Against State’s Own Health Dept. Assessment — After RFK Casts Doubt

Erica Scwartz (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib); Josh Shapiro, upper right (AP Photo/Marc Levy); Robert F. Kennedy Jr, lower right
(AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

New Centers for Disease Control Director Erica Schwartz refused to include two Pennsylvania measles deaths in the agency’s weekly tracker — as known vaccine skeptic and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr cast doubt on the fatalities.

Schwartz, 54, was responsible for what The Washington Post described as a “highly unusual” decision.

Instead of including the Pennsylvania cases, which mark the first measles fatalities in the Keystone State in 35 years, the CDC tracker includes this note:

*This week’s measles outbreaks update will not include the two measles-associated deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on August 25 while CDC reviews additional information regarding the circumstances and causes of death. At this time, available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other causes while infected with measles. CDC will update the national count as additional information becomes available.

Note: The total number of cases includes cases among international visitors to the U.S.

The deaths were reported on Aug. 25 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and sparked an online war of words between Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and RFK Jr., with Shapiro claiming the controversial health secretary had “launched into a tirade — talking about fetal tissue and blaming the previous administration for this problem. He even told me it would be better if we went back to ‘natural measles,'” as the two discussed the cases.

During a Fox News town hall Saturday, RFK appeared to cast doubt on the Pennsylvania measles cases:

Well, you know, we’re still trying to get information about the measles deaths.

The so-called measles deaths in Lancaster county.

I talked with the county coroner or the county commissioner this morning, and he says there were no measles deaths.

Pennsylania listed the deaths as “measles-associated,” according to The Post, which cited the Republican coroner of Lancaster County, who said one of the fatalities, a newborn, tested positive for measles but that he didn’t think the virus played a role in the baby’s death.

An HHS spokesperson referred Mediaite to a previous statement on the topic: “CDC has a responsibility to ensure its reporting accurately and transparently reflects what is known and what remains unconfirmed. The two measles-associated deaths announced by Pennsylvania have not been confirmed based on the information currently available to CDC. The information currently posted reflects the best available information and our commitment to transparency and telling the American people the truth—a foundational principle of the Trump Administration.”

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