Sep 28, 2026
The CDC officially recognized one measles-related death in the U.S., nearly a month after Pennsylvania reported four measles deaths, highlighting a political dispute between state and federal health authorities over death toll reporting.
Pennsylvania's health department requested emergency CDC support as the state grapples with one of the country's largest measles outbreaks, with 117 new cases reported and two deaths. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy blamed the Trump administration's vaccine approach for the deaths.
For the third consecutive week, the CDC has not included two Pennsylvania measles deaths in its official reporting, prompting internal concerns about data integrity as the U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak in decades.
Federal health officials declared an end to the largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S. history, which sickened 12,883 people across 21 states and was linked to contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms. The FDA says its investigation remains ongoing despite the outbreak being declared over.
CDC data shows US kindergarten vaccination rates continue to decline while exemptions reach record levels, despite ongoing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses. The trend comes amid the Trump administration's controversial actions on childhood vaccines.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told CDC staff that the U.S. would have done better in the Covid outbreak by listening to alternative voices, speaking at a memorial for last year's shooting at the agency.
The Senate Health Committee voted 13-10 to advance Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the CDC, despite Democratic concerns about political pressure and vaccine policy under the Trump administration.
The CDC is taking an unusually limited and quiet role in responding to the ongoing hantavirus cruise ship outbreak, raising questions from public health experts about the agency's involvement in the international health crisis.
The New York Times reports that Trump administration cuts to infectious disease research funding and staffing, including disease detectives, have compromised U.S. preparedness for the ongoing hantavirus cruise ship outbreak. The CDC's response is being led by its Global Migration Health division as seven states prepare to receive potentially exposed passengers.
California is experiencing substantially higher tuberculosis rates compared to the rest of the United States, with cases reaching a 12-year peak. The CDC has reported 24 large outbreaks as the state faces elevated TB transmission.
The CDC reports measles outbreaks have now spread to 45 states, putting the US at risk of losing its measles elimination status that was declared in 2000. The agency established seven indicators to monitor elimination status.
A new survey found that the CDC's recent changes to messaging suggesting a possible link between vaccines and autism can undermine public trust in vaccines and science, despite scientific consensus showing no such link exists.
U.S. health officials have prevented publication of a study on COVID vaccine effectiveness, prompting concerns from Senator Dick Durbin and others about the muzzling of scientists and doctors. This follows earlier halts to CDC communications.
A former Imperial Brands executive has been appointed to a senior CDC position, marking the latest example of tobacco industry influence in the Trump administration according to public health advocates.
The CDC delayed publishing a study scheduled for March 19 that found Covid vaccines reduced urgent care and emergency visits by 50 percent and hospitalizations by 55 percent among healthy adults in 2025-2026. Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya halted the report over methodological concerns despite it passing the agency's scientific review process and using the same observational methods the CDC has long employed for respiratory virus vaccines. The delay occurs under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who formerly chaired anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, called Covid shots the deadliest vaccine ever made, and directed the CDC to drop vaccine recommendations for children and healthy pregnant women. Public confidence has eroded, with only 41 percent of Americans believing Covid vaccine benefits outweigh risks according to a September 2025 YouGov survey.