CDC records 178 new measles cases, bringing 2026 total to 4,588

178. That is the number of new measles cases added to the national ledger by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week. The update pushes the 2026 total to 4,588 confirmed infections. This figure stands at more than double the count recorded for the entirety of 2025. The disease is currently active in at least 43 distinct outbreaks across the country.

Pennsylvania accounts for the largest share of these infections. State officials reported 1,338 cases on the same day the CDC issued its update. South Carolina and Utah follow as the next most affected states, with each reporting more than 500 cases. Despite these high numbers, experts note that official tallies likely undercount the true scope of the illness. Many infected individuals experience symptoms like rash, fever, and cough but do not always seek immediate medical attention.

A discrepancy exists between state and federal death reports. Pennsylvania authorities have logged five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth. In contrast, the CDC reports only three measles deaths nationally. The agency has not specified the location of the third death, leaving uncertainty about whether it overlaps with Pennsylvania’s count. This gap has drawn criticism regarding the agency’s transparency.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a central figure in recent vaccine policy shifts. Reuters reported that in September, Kennedy asked senior CDC officials to remove a specific measles death from the official tally. He questioned whether the disease contributed to the patient’s demise. Kennedy has also moved to reshape the oversight of vaccine safety data.

This week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced changes to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS. The proposal allows doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. While researchers use VAERS to track rare safety issues, anti-vaccine activists often cite it to argue against vaccine safety. Kennedy previously replaced all 17 members of the expert panel that reviewed vaccine changes with ideologically aligned appointees, a move blocked by a court in March.

The next step in the policy process involves the implementation of the new VAERS billing rules. Additionally, state health departments will continue to update their weekly case counts as the outbreak progresses. The CDC will release its next data update following the standard reporting schedule.