CDC-Pennsylvania dispute over measles death counts fuels drama amid rising cases

Former CDC officials warn that a clash with Pennsylvania over how measles deaths are counted is creating unnecessary drama while cases surge.

They explain that states normally follow a standardized reporting process defined by epidemiologists and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, which ensures consistent data.

The authors argue that politicizing case definitions threatens that consistency and could hinder the public health response to the outbreak.