A child in Lewis County has died in New York’s first known measles-related death in more than 30 years, state officials said Monday. The death comes as a measles outbreak continues in the region.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was heartbroken by the news and offered condolences to the child’s family and loved ones. She said measles is highly contagious and vaccination remains the strongest protection against the disease.
Hochul called the death a devastating reminder of the risks posed by preventable illnesses. She also criticized recent changes to federal vaccine policy, while saying New York would continue to rely on established public health measures.
The Trump administration has revised the childhood immunization schedule and is reviewing vaccine recommendations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for children, saying the doses offer the best protection against measles.
The child died about four weeks after Hochul declared a state disaster emergency in response to the outbreak in parts of New York and neighboring states. The declaration broadened the group of people authorized to administer measles vaccines and made additional resources available if needed. Hochul said last month that she planned to seek federal help to address the outbreak.
The New York State Department of Health said it is coordinating with county health departments and local organizations to offer MMR vaccines to unvaccinated people who request them. It is also monitoring and investigating reported cases.
As of Oct. 24, New York had reported 178 measles cases this year: 170 outside New York City and eight within the city.
State health officials urged residents to check that their MMR vaccinations are up to date. They also advised people traveling with unvaccinated individuals, particularly young children, to pay attention to health advisories.
The health department said it had offered Lewis County help with community outreach and vaccination efforts. It described measles as highly contagious and capable of causing severe complications or death, and urged residents to discuss immunizations with their health care providers.
