Pennsylvania Ties CDC Measles Aid Request to Recognizing Deaths RFK Jr. Disputes
State health officials say they will withdraw their request for federal help unless the CDC publicly acknowledges four measles-associated deaths.
Part of a larger narrative
Pennsylvania Measles Crisis
- Pennsylvania Ties CDC Measles Aid Request to Recognizing Deaths RFK Jr. Disputesyou are here
- Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Hits Four Deaths, Worst US Toll in Decades
What to know
- Pennsylvania's outbreak has reached 731 confirmed cases across 38 counties and four deaths, among the largest and deadliest in the US in decades.
- The state's request for CDC emergency Epi-Aid support is conditional: officials say they will withdraw it unless the CDC publicly recognizes the four measles-associated deaths.
- Kennedy has questioned the causes of the deaths and instructed the CDC to exclude them from the national tally, a move health experts call highly unusual.
- Analysts argue the true scale of infection is likely far higher than official counts because milder cases, especially in undertested communities, go unreported.
The official case count vastly understates the real scale of the outbreak given measles mortality rates.
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“Measles kills 1 out of 1000 infected. They've had 4 deaths, but less than 700 official cases. Means people aren't reporting most cases.”
knittingknots.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
The outbreak reflects broader vaccine hesitancy and ignorance driving preventable deaths.
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“Ignorance Can kill.”
research-fanatic.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. US Health and Human Services Secretary
Josh Shapiro Governor of Pennsylvania (D)Debra Bogen Pennsylvania Secretary of Health
Erica Schwartz CDC DirectorGreg Furlong Jefferson County coroner and mayor of Summerville
How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideosposts
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Shapiro calls Kennedy not 'connected or grounded in reality'
Governor Josh Shapiro publicly criticized Kennedy's handling of the outbreak and his questioning of the reported deaths, escalating the political dispute over the federal response.
“connected or grounded in reality…”
— Josh Shapiro -
2 outlets first by Yahoo, 6d ago · also The Hill · read ↗
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RFK is a eugenicist. That is why he points to underlying health conditions when measles kills someone. The implicit argument is measles did us a favor by culling the herd. Of course, that is not how the family members feel.
2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
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In 2021 RFK Jr gave a speech in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania telling an Amish audience that “the cure for measles is chicken soup and Vitamin A.” Now, there is an explosion of measles in Pennsylvania with four people dead including two infants from Lancaster County. 🤬
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https://www. europesays.com/us/1070025/ Philadelphia health department warns of possible measles exposure at CHOP #19845051 # Health # UnitedStates # UnitedStates # US
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Pennsylvania asks CDC for Epi-Aid, conditions it on death recognition
Health Secretary Debra Bogen sent a letter to CDC Director Erica Schwartz beginning the process of requesting emergency Epi-Aid assistance, warning the state would rescind the request unless the CDC publicly and accurately recognizes the four measles-associated deaths.
“The CDC's choice not to publicly recognize the deaths undermines our response. For this reason, if CDC is unable to transparently and accurately communicate information about those measles-associated deaths, the department will respectfully rescind our request for a CDC Epi-Aid.”
— Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health -
first by Guardian US, 6d ago · also Seeking Alpha, Forbes, HuffPost, The Hill, Guardian
4 more headlines
- Pennsylvania calls on CDC to recognize measles deaths, asks for emergency assistance Seeking Alpha · 6d ago
- Pennsylvania Asks For Emergency CDC Aid For Measles Outbreak And Recognition Of Deaths, Report Says Forbes · 6d ago
- Pennsylvania Asks CDC For Emergency Measles Help Amid RFK Jr. Dispute HuffPost · 6d ago
- Pennsylvania asks CDC for emergency assistance amid RFK Jr. clash over measles The Hill · 6d ago
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4 outlets Pennsylvania asks for CDC help on measles outbreak, demands agency recognize measles deaths: Reuters
first by CNBC, 6d ago · also Reuters, Straits Times, Al Jazeera
3 more headlines
- Pennsylvania asks for CDC help on measles outbreak, demands agency recognize measles deaths Reuters · 6d ago
- Pennsylvania Asks for CDC Help If Agency Counts Measles Deaths Bloomberg.com · 6d ago
- Pennsylvania seeks CDC help amid dispute over US measles deaths Al Jazeera · 6d ago
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Over 100 new cases of measles in Pennsylvania have been reported over the past week, according to the state’s health department. This brings the state’s total to 731 cases in 38 counties for the current outbreak, which started in late April.
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Pennsylvania measles outbreak now up to 731 cases and 4 deaths
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117 new cases of measles in Pennsylvania have been reported just over this past week. Wowza!
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The Atlantic argues true outbreak scope is far larger than reported
An Atlantic analysis noted that with measles mortality of one to three per 1,000 infections, four deaths imply many more unreported cases, particularly in undertested Amish communities, suggesting the official 693-731 case count understates the outbreak's true size.
“Four deaths in roughly four weeks suggest that the state is in the midst of an enormous outbreak.”
— The Atlantic -
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* EXCLUSIVE -- PENNSYLVANIA SEEKS CDC HELP IN MEASLES OUTBREAK ON CONDITION FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES MEASLES-RELATED DEATHS - DOCUMENT @reuters.com
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and state health authorities have previously clashed with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the deaths associated with measles in the state.
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Case count rises to 731 across 38 counties
Pennsylvania's health department reported more than 100 new cases in a single week, bringing the total to 731 confirmed measles cases in 38 counties since the outbreak began in late April.
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first by devdiscourse.com, 6d ago · also 6abc Philadelphia
1 more headline
- Pennsylvania health officials urge early measles vaccinations as outbreak grows 6abc Philadelphia · 5d ago
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first by USA Today, 8d ago · also The Atlantic
1 more headline
- Pennsylvania’s Measles Outbreak Is Enormous The Atlantic · 8d ago
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Two new deaths bring Pennsylvania’s measles-associated death toll to four as Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clash over the federal response to the outbreak.
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Two more deaths bring Pennsylvania toll to four
An unvaccinated 40-year-old woman with asthma and COPD and an unvaccinated 18-year-old who died of a rare measles-triggered inflammatory brain condition were reported dead, reigniting the fight between Kennedy and Gov. Josh Shapiro over how the outbreak is being handled.
“If she wouldn't have got the measles, would she still be alive today? I say yes…”
— Greg Furlong, Jefferson County coroner -
first by WPSU, 6d ago · also PennLive
1 more headline
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first by The Washington Sun, 6d ago
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Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended, the first between ages 12 and 15 months and the second between ages 4 and 6. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles.
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- 1 day quiet
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Outbreak grows to 624 confirmed cases
Pennsylvania's measles case count climbed to 624 as the outbreak, which began in late April, continued to expand across the state.
“Ignorance Can kill.”
— research-fanatic.bsky.social, Bluesky user · source -
first by ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos, 7d ago · also The Washington Post, ABC News, Rural Radio Network
1 more headline
- See the latest measles count for the Pennsylvania outbreak The Washington Post · 7d ago
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first by WBUR, 6d ago · also Townhall, Philadelphia Inquirer
2 more headlines
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Ignorance Can kill. Pennsylvania's measles outbreak grows to 624 cases
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background
Kennedy directs CDC to exclude Pennsylvania deaths from national tally — Kennedy instructed the CDC not to include Pennsylvania's reported measles fatalities in the national measles death count, a move health experts called "highly unusual" and warned could cause the public to underestimate the outbreak's danger.
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background
Two infant measles deaths reported; RFK Jr. questions them on X — Pennsylvania's health department announced two measles-associated infant deaths in mid-August. Kennedy, a former anti-vaccine activist now serving as health secretary, suggested on X the deaths might have been fabricated before later acknowledging a coroner's finding that measles caused one death.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by CBS News, 6d ago · also WHYY, NBC10 Philadelphia, 6abc Philadelphia, Philadelphia Inquirer
5 more headlines
- Possible measles exposure reported at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, health officials say CBS News · 6d ago
- Philadelphia health leaders warn of possible measles exposure reported at CHOP’s NICU WHYY · 6d ago
- Possible measles exposure reported at the NICU at CHOP, officials say NBC10 Philadelphia · 6d ago
- Philadelphia health department warns of possible measles exposure at CHOP 6abc Philadelphia · 6d ago
- Philadelphia health officials report a measles exposure at CHOP Philadelphia Inquirer · 6d ago
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first by Yahoo, 6d ago · also PennLive, FOX 29 Philadelphia
1 more headline
and 2 smaller pieces
What people are saying 6 voices from 1 site · best of 22 · verbatim
- Why is measles, eliminated in the US since 2000, resurging now?
- Why did the CDC change its methodology for counting measles deaths amid this outbreak?
- Sep 18
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New Bluesky feed: Pennsylvania Measles — covering PA measles outbreak, CDC aid requests, disputed deaths & political conflict. 🩺
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The Atlantic is running a similar story headed - Pennsylvania’s Measles Outbreak is Enormous Pennsylvania measles cases top 700 after four outbreak-related deaths reported -
- Sep 17
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State reportedly asks for Epi-Aid support unless federal agency recognizes four local measles-related deaths
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In Pennsylvania the measles outbreak is worse than we may think. So far there have been 4 reported deaths. Two infants and an unvaccinated 40 year old & an 18 year old. Measles was a childhood disease that had previously been eliminated in 2000. Why the sudden surge? Take a listen.👇🏼 #Pinks
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PA reports 693 measles cases, but true numbers are far higher. With mortality at 1-3 per 1,000, "four deaths in roughly four weeks suggest that the state is in the midst of an enormous outbreak."
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PENNSYLVANIA SEEKS CDC HELP IN MEASLES OUTBREAK ON CONDITION FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES MEASLES-RELATED DEATHS - DOCUMENT

