Child Dies of Measles in New York, the State's First Such Death in Over 30 Years, as Statewide Cases Reach 210
The New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health issued a joint statement in Albany on November 2 confirming that a child in Lewis County, in New York's North Country region, has died in association with the state's ongoing measles outbreak. It is the first known measles-associated death in New York State in more than 30 years. The agencies said they were deeply saddened by the death, extended heartfelt condolences to the child's family and loved ones, and asked that the family's privacy be respected. The statement did not release the child's age or vaccination status.
Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement the same day that she was heartbroken to learn a child in Lewis County had died after contracting measles, and that as a mother and grandmother she could not imagine what the family is going through. Hochul said measles is highly contagious and vaccination remains the best protection against the disease, calling the death New York's first measles-related death in 30 years, and said New York will continue to stand by proven public health measures.
State data released with the statement showed 178 measles cases statewide as of October 24, with 170 outside New York City and eight in the city. Lewis County had reported 15 cases as of October 14, among the higher county totals in the state, and county data show all 15 patients were unvaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). A state health department update on November 3 raised the statewide total to 210 cases through October 31, an increase of 32.
The death comes four weeks after Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over the outbreak. The declaration, issued on October 5 and running through November 4, expanded the pool of people who can administer measles vaccines in response to the outbreak across areas of New York and neighboring states. The health department said it has offered resources to Lewis County for community outreach and local vaccination efforts, and is working with county health departments and local partners to provide MMR vaccine to unvaccinated people who request it and to monitor and investigate reported cases, including contact tracing.
Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recorded 4,852 confirmed measles cases as of October 30, the most in 35 years. Pennsylvania's outbreak had reached 1,433 cases with 269 hospitalizations and five measles-associated deaths as of November 2. The state health department notes that measles can cause serious complications including hospitalization, pneumonia and brain swelling, and can be fatal; the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective after one dose and 97 percent effective after two doses. All New Yorkers are urged to make sure they are up to date on their MMR vaccinations, and infants six months and older may receive an early dose if traveling to or living in a community with measles transmission, under the latest guidance.
Related: Measles Cases Climb to 124 as New York Declares Disaster Emergency
(Source: New York State Department of Health)
Source: New York State Department of Health
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: MMR（麻疹、腮腺炎与风疹）疫苗瓶（Whispyhistory 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons）
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