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NY Child's Measles Death: State's First in 30 Years
3 Nov
Summary
- A child in rural northern New York has died from measles.
- This is the first measles-related death in New York in 30 years.
- Measles vaccination rates have fallen below crucial levels.
A child in rural northern New York has died from measles, marking the state's first fatality from the disease in 30 years. The devastating event occurred in Lewis County.
This death highlights a critical concern: U.S. vaccination rates for measles have fallen below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks of this viral disease. The nation had previously stopped the domestic spread of measles in 2000.
In response to rising cases, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency in early October. This declaration expanded the pool of individuals authorized to administer measles vaccines and enabled nurses to order testing, aiming to bolster public health efforts.
