Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have reported two new measles-associated deaths, bringing the total in the United States this year to 10. The federal count has been at the centre of a dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr over how to classify the deaths; the US could lose its measles elimination status this week.
Pennsylvania, the state hardest hit by the outbreak, reports a death as measles-associated if a person with confirmed measles dies within 30 days of developing symptoms, unless the death resulted from an unrelated event. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has asked CDC director Erica Schwartz not to count the deaths in the official tally, claiming there was no evidence they were measles-associated. The CDC's website records six measles-related deaths, fewer than the number reported by states.
Vaccination coverage among US kindergarteners has fallen. Coverage among US kindergarteners dropped from 95.2 per cent during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4 per cent in the 2025-2026 school year. The MMR vaccine offers around 97 per cent protection after two doses. Measles was officially declared eliminated in the US in 2000, and the country could lose that status this week.
Epidemiologists have told Al Jazeera that tracking “measles-associated” deaths has long been a standard used by the World Health Organization and the CDC. The CDC says it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to establish a standardised definition for measles deaths.
Pennsylvania has recorded 1,542 confirmed cases this year, while Wisconsin has logged 651. New York earlier this month reported its first measles death in more than 30 years. Nationally, more than 5,400 confirmed cases have been reported in 2026, more than double the 2,289 cases reported in 2025, according to data from the CDC and the Johns Hopkins University International Vaccine Access Center tracker.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The 10 deaths and 5,400-plus cases represent the worst measles outbreak in the US in decades, and the country is poised to lose its elimination status for the first time in 25 years.
- The dispute between states and the CDC over how to count deaths creates confusion during a public health emergency and could shape how the scale of the crisis is perceived.
- The outbreak is a direct consequence of falling vaccination rates, highlighting a critical vulnerability in the country's public health infrastructure.
Background
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, meaning no sustained transmission for 12 months. The current surge, concentrated in undervaccinated communities, has recorded more than 5,400 confirmed cases this year, more than double the total in 2025. Vaccination coverage among kindergarteners has fallen to 92.4 per cent, below the 95 per cent threshold needed for herd immunity. The US could lose its elimination status as early as this week.
Key Perspectives
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin health officials: Classify deaths as measles-associated if a confirmed case dies within 30 days, following a longstanding international standard.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr: Opposes counting the state figures in the national tally, arguing there is no conclusive evidence linking the deaths to measles.
Epidemiologists: Confirm that the method used by states follows standard World Health Organization and CDC protocol for tracking the consequences of an outbreak.
What to Watch
- Whether the US formally loses its measles elimination status this week.
- The outcome of the CDC's work with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to create a standardised definition for measles deaths.
- How the dispute between state and federal health authorities affects public health messaging and vaccination uptake in the hardest-hit communities.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMeasles-associated deaths in the US have reached 10.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have announced one additional measles-associated death in each state, marking 10 total deaths in the United States linked to the disease this year.”
- SupportedThe federal and state counts are at the centre of a dispute over how to classify measles deaths.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The federal count of measles reports has been at the centre of a dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Kennedy over how measles deaths are classified.”
- SupportedThe US could lose its measles elimination status this week.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “As a result of the ongoing outbreak, the US could lose its measles elimination status this week.”
- SupportedPennsylvania and Wisconsin each reported one additional measles-associated death, bringing the US total to 10.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have announced one additional measles-associated death in each state, marking 10 total deaths in the United States linked to the disease this year.”
- SupportedRobert F Kennedy Jr asked CDC director Erica Schwartz not to count the deaths in the official tally, saying there was no evidence they were measles-associated.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr asked CDC director Erica Schwartz not to count the deaths in the official tally, claiming there was no evidence they were measles-associated.”
- SupportedPennsylvania counts a death as measles-associated when a person with confirmed measles dies within 30 days of developing symptoms, unless the death resulted from an unrelated event.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Pennsylvania, the state hardest hit by the outbreak, reports “measles-associated” deaths after a person with confirmed measles dies within 30 days of developing symptoms, unless the death resulted from an unrelated event.”
- SupportedThe CDC website records six measles-related deaths, fewer than the number reported by states.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The CDC recorded six measles-related deaths, according to figures on its website.”
- SupportedUS kindergarten vaccination coverage fell from 95.2% in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025–2026.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “vaccination coverage among US kindergarteners has decreased from 95.2 percent during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4 percent in the 2025-2026 school year.”
- SupportedMore than 5,400 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the US in 2026, more than double the 2,289 reported in 2025.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “More than 5,400 confirmed measles cases have been recorded in the US to date, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Johns Hopkins University International Vaccine Access Center tracker. The number of confirmed cases as of November 2026 is more than double the 2,289 confirmed cases reported in 2025.”
- SupportedMeasles was officially declared eliminated in the US in 2000.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Measles, a highly contagious virus, was officially declared eliminated in the US in 2000.”
- SupportedEpidemiologists told Al Jazeera that tracking measles-associated deaths has long been a standard used by the WHO and CDC.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Epidemiologists have told Al Jazeera that tracking “measles-associated” deaths has long been a standard used by the World Health Organization and the CDC.”
- SupportedThe CDC says it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to establish a standardised definition for measles deaths.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The CDC has said it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to establish a standardised definition for measles deaths.”
