HHS says the CDC's reporting must separate what is known from what is unconfirmed
U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesHHS spokesperson, in a statement to MS NOW
An HHS spokesperson says the CDC has a responsibility to make its reporting distinguish between what is known and what remains unconfirmed, after a report that Kennedy had the Pennsylvania deaths removed from the CDC's tally.
“CDC has a responsibility to ensure its reporting accurately distinguishes between what is known and what remains unconfirmed”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
RFK Jr. suggests Pennsylvania's measles deaths may have been fabricated; Shapiro says he sowed doubt and kept them off the CDC count
On August 25, 2026, Pennsylvania's Department of Health announced the state's first two measles-associated deaths in 35 years, both in Lancaster County, and Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Trump administration's rhetoric was hurting communities. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the next day that the announcement appeared premature and that the deaths may have been fabricated by one of the governor's staffers. The state health secretary said she had confirmed both deaths, and the CDC left them out of its weekly measles update while it reviewed them. After the county coroner said measles caused one infant's death, Kennedy said the finding showed why the CDC had waited for evidence. Shapiro said Kennedy had sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge the deaths.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
MS NOW report on a Reuters account that Secretary Kennedy asked CDC Director Erica Schwartz to remove the two Pennsylvania deaths from the agency's measles page. It includes an HHS spokesperson's statement to MS NOW calling the Reuters report false and misleading.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
MS NOW reports that Reuters, citing three anonymous sources, said Kennedy asked CDC Director Erica Schwartz to remove the two Pennsylvania deaths from the agency's measles page after CDC officials had accepted the state's assessment.
After the quotation
The spokesperson calls the Reuters report false and misleading, says CDC officials made the decision on the measles reporting, and says the information is the best available.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Reuters reported that Kennedy asked the CDC director to remove the two Pennsylvania deaths from the agency's measles page. The HHS spokesperson calls that report false and misleading and says CDC officials made the decision, which denies that Kennedy directed it.
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More from this case
Read the full caseKerry Kennedy says her brother's vaccine-skeptic messaging contributed to people not taking vaccines
“Yeah, I think absolutely, his messaging on vaccine skepticism has 100% contributed to people not taking their vaccines.”Read statement
Shapiro says Kennedy sowed doubt and directed the CDC not to acknowledge Pennsylvania's measles deaths
“Then, instead of listening to the real doctors and public health experts, RFK chose to sow doubt, play politics, direct the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths, and even accuse me of fabricating these tragedies.”Read statement
CDC credits Kennedy's efforts to clarify whether Pennsylvania's reported deaths were caused by measles
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“We appreciate Secretary Kennedy's efforts to clarify conflicting information from Pennsylvania officials about whether the two reported deaths were caused by measles. CDC is working to determine what actually occurred.”Read statement
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- HHS says the CDC's reporting must separate what is known from what is unconfirmed
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The Dispute Index. "HHS says the CDC's reporting must separate what is known from what is unconfirmed". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7439-an-hhs-spokesperson-says-the-cdc-has-a