CDC recognizes three measles deaths amid Pennsylvania count conflict
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes three measles-related deaths on its outbreak dashboard, conflicting with Pennsylvania health reports showing five fatalities this year with a sixth...
- Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro has criticized the federal tally, accusing the agency of playing political theater with its measles death numbers.
- The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists launched an official workgroup earlier this summer to formulate that standard definition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes three measles-related deaths on its outbreak dashboard, conflicting with Pennsylvania health reports showing five fatalities this year with a sixth under investigation. It remains unclear what prompted the federal agency to alter its recorded death toll.
Pennsylvania Accuses Federal Health Officials of Political Theater
Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro has criticized the federal tally, accusing the agency of playing political theater with its measles death numbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains it is working alongside the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop a standardized case definition for deaths attributed to measles.
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists launched an official workgroup earlier this summer to formulate that standard definition. The workgroup is assessing the timeline for release of the case definition; however, at this time we generally anticipate approximately 2 to 3 months for the work to be completed,
the organization stated last week, according to CIDRAP.
Food and Drug Administration Clears New Hepatitis B Injection
In separate federal health developments, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection in specific adult patients without cirrhosis. The injection, named Hibsago and containing bepirovirsen, is authorized for adults who have maintained hepatitis B antiviral therapy for at least six months, exhibit suppressed levels of the virus in their blood, and maintain surface antigen levels of 3,000 IU/mL or less as verified by an authorized test.
Across the two trials, 24% of patients who received Hibsago met the requirements to stop their existing medicine, compared with none who received placebo,
the Food and Drug Administration stated.
Guinea-Bissau Police Seize Controversial Newborn Vaccine Trial Doses
Police in Guinea-Bissau seized doses of a controversial hepatitis B vaccine from the local office of the Bandim Health Project, a team of Danish vaccine researchers leading the study. The researchers announced the seizure in a social media post, noting they had received approval to conduct the newborn trial this summer with partial funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The University of Southern Denmark confirmed the study’s approval earlier this month, though the health minister of Guinea-Bissau expressed skepticism that the trial would advance. The World Health Organization previously criticized the trial as unethical because it would withhold birth doses of the hepatitis B vaccine from half of the infant participants, calling newborn vaccination an essential public health intervention.
HHS and CDC extend their condolences to the families and communities affected by two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. CDC is working closely with state and local health departments to strengthen response efforts, rapidly support affected communities…
A lead researcher on the project acknowledged the shutdown on professional social media, writing that it is now clear the trial will not move forward in the country due to a lack of necessary governmental approval.
More on Pennsylvania
🔴 US measles cases hit 4,410; Pennsylvania outbreak kills 5, triggers federal responseThe CDC recorded 4,410 measles cases in 2026 as of mid-October, up 330 in one week. Pennsylvania accounts for 1,222 cases across 42 counties with 225 hospitalizations and five confirmed… pic.twitter.com/gkwjuBg0xF