US measles cases hit 3,134 as leaders feud over death count
US measles cases have reached 3,134, the highest level since 1991, amid a political dispute over how to classify deaths associated with the disease. Health officials and the Pennsylvania governor are clashing with federal leadership over the transparency and scientific basis of updated reporting criteria.
Why it matters
The politicization of public health data and disease classification threatens public trust in health institutions during a significant infectious disease outbreak.
The US has confirmed 3,134 measles cases so far this year, driven by a growing outbreak in Pennsylvania linked to two deaths that started a feud between the governor and the nation’s top health leader.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 231 new cases in the week ending Sept 3. The nation is already at the highest levels since 1991, the last year with more cases, which occurred prior to the formal elimination of the disease.
Pennsylvania has recorded 577 infections and 98 hospitalizations as of Friday, according to the state’s health department. Most of the infections are centered in Lancaster County.
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