Pregnant women and their clinicians may face a gap in timely federal guidance on measles as infections bring risks of miscarriage, early labor and low birth weight.
CDC scientists sought about a month ago to send clinicians an alert on the rising threat of measles in pregnancy through the Health Alert Network, five people familiar with the discussions confirmed. The CDC director’s office did not approve the planned alert.
The delay comes during a major outbreak in Pennsylvania, where 1,286 measles cases have been confirmed across 42 counties so far in 2026. At least 77 pregnant women in the state have had measles.
At least one baby with congenital measles died at birth.
Babies infected with measles before or during birth can become very sick and may face health complications later in life. Death from measles occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.
The Health Alert Network is normally used by the CDC to quickly send urgent public-health information to clinicians, laboratories and public-health professionals. It remains unclear how quickly information on measles in pregnancy will reach clinicians, or where it will be published, amid internal conflict.
State health officials had sought more information about measles in pregnancy, while clinicians are treating unvaccinated women of childbearing age with the disease for the first time. A report could fill major gaps in knowledge about a condition doctors have rarely encountered for decades.
DOH issued a Health Alert Network notice with clinical guidance for health care providers treating pregnant women who develop measles and newborns with possible measles. Non-immune pregnant women and babies exposed to measles can receive immunoglobulin within six days of the initial exposure.
Nearly 20 percent of people identified by DOH with measles have been hospitalised. The MMR vaccine is proven 97 percent effective at preventing measles for life after two doses.
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