Removal of two Pennsylvania deaths from CDC measles tally

What happened

The nation's top health official questioned the link between measles and two deaths in Pennsylvania, subsequently directing their removal from the CDC measles list.

Reports indicate that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. intervened to prevent these two deaths from being included in the CDC tally.

Why it matters

The removal of these deaths highlights the tension between political intervention and the established reporting processes for public health data.

Context

State health departments have historically held the responsibility for determining and reporting measles cases and deaths rather than the CDC.