The CDC’s national tally remains far below Pennsylvania’s state count as officials debate how measles-related deaths should be classified during the country’s largest outbreak in decades.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists two measles deaths in the United States for 2026. The agency says the number remains subject to change as additional information becomes available and reviews are completed.
Pennsylvania has reported five measles-associated deaths this year. The latest death involved an unvaccinated Lancaster County resident and was announced September 30.
The difference between the federal and state totals has fueled an ongoing disagreement between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pennsylvania officials have counted deaths using the state’s definition of a measles-associated death while the CDC now relies on mortality records from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The CDC’s public database does not identify the locations of its two nationally counted deaths.
The agency is also working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop a standardized definition for deaths caused by measles. This effort aims to ensure consistent case investigations and future reporting practices for measles-related fatalities.
Pennsylvania first reported two measles-associated deaths on August 25. Two more deaths were confirmed on September 15 and the fifth was announced September 30.
The state’s outbreak has continued to grow. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 977 confirmed cases across 39 counties as of October 2 and said 195 patients had been hospitalized.
That is a major correction from earlier figures showing 3,471 cases and 301 hospitalizations. Pennsylvania also does not report zero deaths because its official count now stands at five.
In 2025 the CDC reported three measles deaths including two children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico. Officials confirmed that all three were unvaccinated.
The disagreement over the 2026 deaths reflects a difference in how federal and state officials are currently classifying fatalities. National mortality statistics generally assign one underlying cause of death based on death certificate information even when several medical conditions contributed.
Pennsylvania uses the broader term measles-associated death for its outbreak reporting. That can include cases in which measles played an important role even if another condition appears in the medical record.
The CDC says its national figure may change as death records are reviewed.
The national outbreak also continues to grow. CDC data updated October 2 show 3,887 confirmed measles cases nationwide in 2026 and 42 reported outbreaks.
Pennsylvania remains one of the hardest-hit states. The state reported that only four of its 977 confirmed cases involved people who were appropriately vaccinated for their age.
Measles remains a serious threat particularly for young children and people who are not protected by vaccination. The CDC says two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles.
The difference between Pennsylvania’s five deaths and the CDC’s national count of two is likely to remain under scrutiny as federal officials refine their reporting standards. Clear definitions and consistent data collection will be important for helping the public understand the severity of the outbreak.
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