Child in Lewis County, New York, Dies From Measles in State’s First Such Death in Over 30 Years
A child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles, the first known measles-associated death in New York in more than 30 years, as the state responds to an outbreak that prompted a disaster emergency last month.
A child in Lewis County, New York, has died after contracting measles, the New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health said in a joint statement Monday. It is the state’s first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was “heartbroken” by the death. “As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child,” she said in a statement.
Outbreak totals and the state response
Lewis County has reported 15 measles cases so far this year, according to North Country Public Radio. Last month, Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency in response to the measles outbreak across areas of New York and neighboring states. The state health department said it has offered resources to Lewis County to help with community outreach and local vaccination efforts, both in response to this case and as part of its work in counties facing the outbreak.
Health officials did not say whether the child had been vaccinated. They urged New Yorkers to make sure they are up to date on measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations and to speak to a health care provider about immunizations. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and a person can catch it by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective, the CDC says.
Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and North Country Public Radio.
