Measles cases race past 5,000 nationwide: CDC

In an update on the virus’s latest outbreak in the United States, the federal health agency confirmed 5,182 cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C. That number is up 330 cases from the CDC’s previous update last week.Officials estimated eight deaths were probably linked to measles, including in Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin, where an infant’s death from the disease marked the first such occurrence in the state since 1990. The CDC has confirmed four deaths so far, though noting the figure is “subject to change.” There is ongoing debate over whether some fatalities were caused by other issues.For instance, in Pennsylvania, federal health officials clashed in August with Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) after the governor claimed two deaths in the state were caused by measles. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested Shapiro’s official take was “premature” and that he was weaponizing the fatalities to pressure residents into getting vaccinated.“The performance was a replay of the Democrats’ COVID playbook: fearmongering, misinformation, finger-pointing, and the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain,” Kennedy wrote in a post to X.There have been 562 hospitalizations linked to measles this year, according to the CDC. People aged 20 and older accounted for 2,132 cases, followed by 2,104 cases among those aged 5-19 years old, and 908 cases among children under 5, according to the agency.The CDC has provided roughly $100 million in funding nationwide to strengthen prevention and response to measles and other diseases that can be prevented with vaccination, according to the Trump administration. New York State, where Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) declared an emergency over measles, was among the areas to receive funding, with $2.36 million granted, and another $2.07 million for New York City.HOCHUL DECLARES DISASTER EMERGENCY OVER NEW YORK MEASLES SURGEThe Pan American Health Organization is meeting later this month to decide whether to terminate the U.S.’s measles eradication designation, which Washington has held since 2000.“We remain committed to actively supporting current outbreak responses through laboratory testing, technical assistance, and close coordination with state and local partners,” the Department of Health and Human Services previously told the Washington Examiner.