New York state reports first measles-linked child death in over 30 years amid outbreak

The New York State Department of Health reported on Monday that a child in Lewis County had tragically died due to measles, marking the first known measles-associated death in the state in over three decades. In response to the outbreak, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency last month, affecting not only Lewis County but also areas in New York and neighboring states.

The Department has provided resources to assist with community outreach and support local vaccination efforts, both in light of this devastating case and as part of their ongoing efforts to combat the measles outbreak. The U.S. is currently grappling with its worst measles resurgence in decades, and Hochul has expressed the state's intention to seek federal assistance through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service, or Epi-Aid, though the specifics of any formal request remain unclear.

As of October 24, New York had reported 178 measles cases this year, with 170 cases originating outside the state.