CDC Director Erica Schwartz Keeps Pennsylvania's Two Measles Deaths Out of the National Tally, Overriding the State's Own Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention withheld the two measles-associated deaths reported by Pennsylvania on Aug. 25 from its weekly national measles death count, posting a footnote saying available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths. CNN reported Sept. 1 that the decision came from CDC Director Erica Schwartz, citing two people with knowledge of it; The Washington Post reported the same a day earlier. The agency delayed its Friday update and posted the count over the weekend with an asterisk. Pennsylvania said it had provided all required epidemiological data.

State epidemiologists have historically made these determinations and the CDC has compiled them, so a director overruling a state's finding departs from long-standing practice and touches the credibility of the federal government's core disease surveillance numbers. Former CDC officials quoted in the coverage called the move highly unusual.

HHS said the deaths remain unconfirmed on the information available to the agency and that the CDC will update the count as it learns more. The Lancaster County coroner has said he is investigating an infant's death and a second death in a person who tested positive for measles.