A child in upstate New York has died from measles, becoming the state’s first fatality linked to the highly contagious disease in more than 30 years.
The unvaccinated child from Lewis County died after contracting measles during a historic outbreak, the New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health said Monday.
The death is New York’s first from measles in over three decades. It comes just four weeks after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency as cases of the viral illness surged across the state.
Hochul said she was heartbroken by the child’s 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.
“Measles is highly contagious, and vaccination remains our best protection against this dangerous disease. This is New York’s first measles-related death in 30 years, a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses,” she added.
“In New York, we will continue to stand by proven public health measures and do everything we can to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”
Authorities have not identified the child publicly and have not released the child’s age or sex.
The last person in New York to die from measles contracted the virus during a major New York City outbreak that began in March 1990 and continued through the summer of 1991. At least 21 people died and thousands became ill during that outbreak.
Lewis County, a rural community in the state’s North Country, had the fourth-highest measles case total in New York, with 15 cases reported this year as of last week. Seneca County had the highest total, with 30 cases.
Public health records indicate that all 15 measles cases reported in Lewis County involved unvaccinated people.
Last month, Hochul issued an executive order declaring a state emergency, giving New York greater flexibility to respond quickly to the outbreak and expand measles vaccination efforts.
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Under the State Disaster Emergency, nurses are authorized to order measles testing, state officials said.
New York also plans to provide epidemiological assistance to investigate cases, conduct contact tracing, and speed up laboratory testing.
Health officials urged residents to protect themselves by ensuring they are current on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. They also advised New Yorkers traveling with unvaccinated people, particularly children, to follow health guidance.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications and death. Vaccination is the best protection against measles,” the New York State Department of Health said in a statement.
“The Department has offered resources to Lewis County to assist with community outreach and support local vaccination efforts – both in response to this case, and as part of our ongoing efforts to support counties that are facing this ongoing measles outbreak,” the statement continued.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus can infect an unvaccinated person for up to two hours after the sick individual has left a room or shared airspace.
The illness typically begins with fever, a runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes before a rash develops. In severe cases, measles can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
The rash, made up of flat red spots, may appear on the face, neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet three to five days after the initial symptoms begin.
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine — the first administered at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old.
Babies as young as 6 months should get one dose of the MMR vaccine if they are traveling abroad or to an area where measles is prevalent or if they reside in a community with measles transmission.
These babies should then continue to get their next two vaccines on schedule for a total of three vaccines, according to the department.
Additional major measles outbreaks have broken out in other states, such as Pennsylvania and South Carolina, this year.