Senator Bill Cassidy, the Republican chair of the US Senate health committee, blamed the Trump administration's vaccine-skeptical approach for recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania and challenged Donald Trump's pick for surgeon general to directly state that vaccines do not cause autism on Wednesday. Cassidy, a Louisiana physician who chairs the panel, said three people in Pennsylvania had died of measles, with a fourth death under review, because of misinformation and misguided policies. His remarks come as the US grapples with its worst measles outbreak in over three decades. "To suffer from any disease is awful, but to suffer one which is avoidable, that's even worse," Cassidy said, adding that the country needs health leaders "who make decisions based on science, not politics or ideology".
The senator said that the outbreak would be "a terrible legacy for this administration".