Mississippi Declares Public Health Emergency as Infant Mortality Soars

On August 25, 2025, Mississippi health officials declared a public health emergency in response to the state's alarming infant mortality crisis. According to the latest data, in 2024, Mississippi's infant mortality rate reached 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the most recent national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000.

This crisis has been building for years, with more than 3,500 Mississippi infants dying before their first birthday since 2014. The leading causes include congenital malformations, premature birth, low birthweight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Racial disparities remain stark, as Black infants in Mississippi are more than twice as likely as White infants to die before their first birthday.

State officials say the declaration of a public health emergency will allow them to move more quickly to address gaps in care. Their plan includes expanding prenatal services in counties without obstetric providers, creating an obstetric system of care to regionalize services and improve emergency transfers, and strengthening home visiting and community health worker programs. "Improving maternal health is the best way to reduce infant mortality," said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney.

Experts caution, however, that individual and clinical interventions alone cannot solve the problem. Factors like poverty, access to healthcare, housing, and transportation play a crucial role in maternal and infant health outcomes. Addressing these structural inequities will be key to improving the situation in Mississippi and across the nation.