Former FDA commissioner on measles outbreak and CDC director candidates

(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA Commissioner, spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about the measles outbreak.

Just three months into 2025, the United States has recorded the most measles cases in a single year since a 2019 wave, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.

The majority of the infections have been reported in an outbreak in Texas that has led to the death of a child.

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and in some cases can cause severe infections in the lungs and brain that can lead to cognitive issues, deafness or death. But doctors and health officials say the vaccine, which is normally given as part of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, is highly safe and effective.

While most people's symptoms improve, about one in five unvaccinated people who get measles will be hospitalized. About one out of every 1,000 children with measles will develop brain swelling that can lead to brain damage, and up to three of every 1,000 children who become infected will die, the CDC says.

The largest outbreak so far this year has been in West Texas, but cases have been reported in a number of other states around the country as well.

According to Brennan, 18 states, including in California, reported seeing "a growing number of infections, particularly in children," prompting her to ask Dr. Gottlieb what parents need to know and if adults are protected, to which Gottlieb replied saying:

"Adults who have been vaccinated should be protected. This vaccine provides durable immunity, and there's no recommendation that anyone who has already been vaccinated, had the full schedule of two doses of vaccine when they were children would need to get another booster, but if people are concerned, they can check their titers. The only recommendation that CDC makes is people who are taking care of those with measles, perhaps health care workers might consider an additional booster later in life. The bigger challenge is with children. So children get vaccinated, as you know, at one year, and then again when they're entering school, around age four. There's a window where children probably don't have a lot of immunity. So a child born has some immunity passed from their mom up until about six months, but there's a window between six and 12 months where they're largely unprotected. Typically, we don't vaccinate at six months because babies don't have developed immune systems where they can develop a durable immunity from an immunization like this, but there are some recommendations now that children between the ages of six and 12 months might get a first dose of vaccine. They would still require a second dose at age one and a third dose at age four."

During the interview, Brennan and Gottlieb talked about two candidates in the running to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The White House is searching for a replacement after the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Florida congressman, was abruptly pulled last week.

Florida's controversial surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, and a former Texas Republican congressman, Dr. Michael Burgess, are each being backed by some of President Donald Trump's allies to be the next head of the CDC.

When Brennan asked how important it is to get someone and "in the role quickly," Gottlieb answered saying:

"I think it's very important, especially when you see what's going on around the country with this measles outbreak in West Texas. We may have more measles cases this year than we've had in 25 years, and so having leadership at the CDC that can direct that response is exceedingly important. Mike Burgess ran the Health Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce, worked closely with the FDA when I was there. He was very good, very effective. He did a lot- lot to advance our interdiction work in mail facilities to stop opioids from flowing through those facilities. He was very dedicated to that effort, actually visited the mail facility in New York at JFK Airport to see firsthand the operation, before he led a charge in Congress to help provide more funding to get more inspectors into those facilities. He has a lot of experience in a lot of the areas where CDC has a very relevant mission."

To watch Brennan's interview with Gottlieb, click here.