US measles cases now at 4,588

Federal health authorities reported 178 new cases of measles in the US this week. The new data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes as experts criticize the agency for lack of transparency. Pennsylvania reported 1,338 cases of measles on the same day as the CDC.

The CDC reported 4,588 cases of measles across the country in 2026 as of Friday. The CDC also reported large outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah, both of which are reporting more than 500 cases.

In Pennsylvania, state authorities have reported five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth. The CDC has reported three measles deaths nationally, but has refused to say where the third death took place.

Kennedy reportedly asked senior CDC officials in September to remove a measles death from the official tally after he questioned whether the disease contributed to the death.

The “vaccine adverse event reporting system”, or VAERS, has been a long-time fixation of the anti-vaccine movement.

In his time as secretary, Kennedy also misleadingly claimed children get more than 90 vaccine doses.

The CDC has been widely regarded as one of the most important agencies for tracking disease outbreaks.

The CDC has been criticized for its lack of transparency in reporting measles cases.

The CDC has been accused of misleading the public about the safety of vaccines.

The CDC has been accused of not reporting all measles deaths.

The CDC has been accused of not reporting all measles cases.

The CDC has been accused of not reporting all measles outbreaks.