A child in upstate New York has died from measles, the state's first death related to the disease in over 30 years.
Videos by Wide Open Country
There Is a Measles Outbreak in New York State
As the New York Post reports, the New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health announced the death of the unvaccinated child on Monday, Nov. 2.
The death comes weeks after Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency in response to a surge in cases of the highly contagious disease. She said she found the news heartbreaking.
"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," the governor said in a statement.
She also added, "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.
"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."
Cases Are Surging in Pennsylvania, Too
The child wasn't publicly identified. Their age and sex were not released. The last New Yorker to die from measles occurred during an outbreak in New York City between March 1990 and the summer of 1991. Thousands became sick, and 21 people died.
Public health records show that all the cases in Lewis County are among unvaccinated people. Health officials have told citizens to stay up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. They also urge people to follow health advisories if traveling with unvaccinated people, especially children.
Meanwhile, last month, the state of Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles-related death.
In that case, the "primary cause of death was a probable acute cardiac event due to possible complications of the measles," a spokesperson for the county coroner's office told reporters. They added that the victim had not been vaccinated. As of Oct. 10, Pennsylvania has had 1,136 measles cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, measles spreads through the air when infected people sneeze, cough, or talk. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, coughing, and watery eyes. A rash typically follows. Children under the age of five are especially vulnerable to the disease.
