Another child dies of measles as CDC reportedly holds up health alert

A child in New York has tragically succumbed to measles, according to state health officials who announced the news late Monday. This marks the first documented measles-related fatality in New York state in more than three decades. To date, the United States has reported seven measles-linked deaths this year; all of the remaining six fatalities occurred in Pennsylvania.

The latter state is currently grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has sickened over 1,430 individuals throughout 2024. Prior to these recent fatalities, Pennsylvania had not experienced a measles-related death in over three and a half decades.

The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, cases, and heart-wrenching deaths is primarily attributed to declining vaccination rates across the nation. A major contributing factor to this alarming trend is the proliferation of vaccine-preventable misinformation and anti-vaccine sentiments. At the forefront of this anti-vaccine movement in the United States is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist who currently holds the position of US Health Secretary.

Prior to assuming this role, Kennedy spent many years attacking vaccines and disseminating misinformation about them. Alongside his anti-vaccine organization, Children's Health Defense, Kennedy has been one of the most prolific sources of anti-vaccine content.

Since taking office, Kennedy has embarked on a multi-pronged campaign against vaccines. His efforts have included dismantling and obstructing federal vaccine recommendations, launching dubious studies to allegedly uncover unspecified harms of vaccines, promoting alleged vaccine injuries, and persisting in spreading misinformation about vaccines and vaccine-preventable illnesses.