New York State has recorded its first measles-related death in more than 30 years following the death of an unvaccinated child in Lewis County.
The child reportedly contracted the highly contagious virus amid a growing measles outbreak across the state. The New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health confirmed the death on Monday, November 2.
The development has raised fresh concerns among health authorities, particularly as cases continue to emerge in communities with low vaccination rates.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed sadness over the incident, describing the death as heartbreaking. She also extended her condolences to the child’s family and everyone affected by the loss.
Hochul had declared a state disaster emergency about four weeks earlier to strengthen the state’s response to the outbreak and make it easier for healthcare workers to administer vaccines and carry out other emergency measures.
The child has not been publicly identified, while authorities have withheld details about the victim’s age and sex.
Lewis County has recorded 15 measles cases this year, all involving unvaccinated individuals, according to public health records. The county currently has the fourth-highest number of infections in New York, behind other affected areas, while Seneca County leads with 30 reported cases.
The latest death is the first measles fatality in New York since an outbreak between 1990 and 1991, when at least 21 people died and thousands were infected.
Health officials have warned that measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus can remain infectious in an enclosed space for up to two hours after the infected individual has left.
Initial symptoms usually include fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a red skin rash. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
Authorities are urging residents to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles, particularly children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, with the first given between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between four and six years.
The New York health department said it was providing support to Lewis County through community awareness campaigns, contact tracing, laboratory testing and vaccination programmes as efforts continue to contain the outbreak.
Other parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania and South Carolina, have also reported significant measles outbreaks this year.
