CDC Reports 178 New Measles Cases as US Total Hits 4,588

The US measles outbreak intensified this week as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logged 178 additional cases.

The agency reported a national total of 4,588 cases as of Friday, October 23. This figure is more than double the number recorded for all of 2025. The disease is currently active in at least 43 separate outbreaks across the country.

Pennsylvania leads the nation with 1,338 cases reported on the same day. South Carolina and Utah also face severe outbreaks, with each state reporting more than 500 cases. The CDC notes that the virus is highly contagious and that official numbers likely undercount the true spread. Many infected individuals do not seek immediate medical care for initial symptoms like rash, fever, and cough.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is overseeing the response while facing criticism over the agency's transparency. The CDC has officially recorded three measles-related deaths nationwide. In contrast, Pennsylvania authorities have reported five deaths and are investigating a sixth. The CDC has not disclosed the location of the third death, creating a gap between federal and state data.

Reuters reports that Kennedy asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one measles death from the official tally. He questioned whether the disease contributed to the patient's death. The Health and Human Services Department also announced changes to the vaccine adverse event reporting system this week. The proposal would allow doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries.

The reporting system, known as VAERS, has long been a point of contention for anti-vaccine groups. Vaccinologists acknowledge that all vaccines carry risks. Before Kennedy's appointment, an expert panel reviewed each vaccine change to weigh benefits against risks. Kennedy dismissed all 17 sitting members of that board and replaced them with ideologically aligned candidates, a move a court blocked in March.

The secretary has made several public claims regarding vaccination. He stated that children receive more than 90 vaccine doses, though this number is misleading. He has linked vaccines to autism despite extensive evidence to the contrary and directed the CDC to remove statements saying vaccines do not cause autism from its website. He also claimed the MMR vaccine contains aborted fetal debris and suggested vitamin A and cod liver oil may help treat measles, a view leading physicians described as misleading.