Controversy Erupts as CDC Deletes Measles Deaths at RFK Jr.'s Request
By Editor • September 3, 2026 • 1 min read
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is at the center of a growing controversy after reports surfaced that two measles-related deaths were removed from its public data at the behest of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to multiple sources, this deletion raises serious questions about transparency and the handling of critical health information.
Reports indicate that Kennedy directed CDC director Erica Schwartz to erase the records of the two fatalities, which involved a newborn and a child. Initially, CDC staff had reviewed and accepted the deaths as measles-related. However, insiders revealed that Schwartz complied with Kennedy's request to remove the information without any apparent resistance, suggesting a troubling dynamic within the agency.
This incident unfolded swiftly; the two deaths were added to the CDC's website and then removed within a matter of hours on August 30. The deletions come amid an ongoing measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, where health officials report 540 cases to date, including 119 new infections in just the last week. The implications of this deletion and the potential impact on public health messaging remain to be seen.
Source: arstechnica.com
