Child dies of measles in New York, first state death in 30 years

A child in Lewis County, New York, has died after contracting measles, marking the state’s first death from the disease in 30 years, state officials announced Monday.

Death in Lewis County

The child died in rural northern New York, approximately 93 miles north of Syracuse, according to Governor Kathy Hochul. The New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health confirmed the death in a joint statement.

“I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Hochul said in a statement. “As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through.”

Acting Health Commissioner James V. McDonald stated that the deceased was unvaccinated. He noted that while the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been available since 1971, the disease is seeing a sharp rise in cases this year.

Measles Outbreaks and Vaccination Rates

New York is currently experiencing an outbreak, with 210 cases reported through October 31, according to a New York state health department update. This includes 32 new cases.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 4,852 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. this year, which is the most cases in the country in the past 35 years. The CDC has confirmed three measles-associated deaths in the U.S. this year, though state reports indicate higher figures. Pennsylvania health officials have reported five deaths this year and are investigating a possible sixth.

Public health experts attribute the rise in cases to falling vaccination rates. While the U.S. stopped the domestic spread of measles in 2000, coverage has fallen below the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks. In 2024, 93% of U.S. 3-year-olds had received at least one MMR dose, according to CDC data.

State and Federal Response

In early October, Governor Hochul declared a disaster emergency due to measles cases in rural New York and neighboring states. The executive order expanded the list of people authorized to administer measles vaccines to include paramedics and midwives, and allowed nurses to join doctors in ordering testing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that the CDC has deployed epidemiologists and experts to New York at the state's request to provide "surveillance, data analysis, strategic planning, and other outbreak response support."

In a statement, an HHS spokesperson said, “Secretary Kennedy and CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz continue to make clear that the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles.”

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Sources

• apnews.com: New York reports its first measles death in 30 years | AP News
• cidrap.umn.edu: Child dies of measles in New York state for first time in 30 years | CIDRAP
• abc7ny.com: NY measles death: Unvaccinated infant dies in Lewis County - ABC7 New York
• medpagetoday.com: Child Dies of Measles in New York's First Such Death in 30 Years | MedPage Today
• cnn.com: Child in New York dies after contracting measles, the state’s first such death in 30 years | CNN
• theguardian.com: New York child dies from measles in state’s first fatal case in 30 years | New York | The Guardian

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.