The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it will send a “disease detective” to Pennsylvania through its Epi-Aid program as U.S. measles cases climbed past 4,400 this year.
CDC’s dashboard listed 4,410 confirmed cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C., ABC News reported. Pennsylvania alone has tallied more than 1,200 cases, with local officials linking six deaths to the outbreak — a figure that has sparked dispute over how national tallies count fatalities.
“Pennsylvania has formally requested CDC assistance through the Epi-Aid program. In response, CDC will support the state’s identified needs and strengthen its response efforts on the ground,” a CDC spokesperson said.
About 96% of national cases involve people who are unvaccinated or whose status is unknown. Pennsylvania health officials say fewer than 1% of its cases are among people fully vaccinated with two MMR doses.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Pennsylvania earlier declined federal help but has now asked for assistance. Epidemiologists call a large U.S. measles surge in 2026 a stark reminder that the disease remains preventable with routine immunization.
Sources: ABC News, NBC News, Pennsylvania Department of Health. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
