A child has died from measles in New York, marking the state’s first death linked to the disease in 30 years, health authorities said on Monday.
The child died in Lewis County, in northern New York, according to county and state health officials.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed sadness over the incident, describing the child’s death as a heartbreaking loss.
“I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Hochul said in a statement.
“As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through.”
Hochul, a Democrat, appeared to link the death to health policies under the Trump administration, describing it as “a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses.”
The death comes as the United States battles its worst measles outbreak in 35 years.
As of October 29, a total of 4,834 measles cases had been reported across 47 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In October, Hochul declared a disaster emergency in New York following measles outbreaks in the state and neighbouring areas.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 following years of successful vaccination campaigns.
However, the highly contagious disease has re-emerged in recent years amid growing vaccine hesitancy and declining public confidence in health authorities.
Measles typically causes fever, respiratory symptoms and a distinctive skin rash. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, which may result in death.
The disease continues to claim tens of thousands of lives worldwide each year.
AFP
