An upstate New York child has died of measles, marking the state’s first death from the highly contagious disease in more than three decades.
An unvaccinated child in Lewis County died after contracting measles amid a historic outbreak in the state, the New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health announced on Monday.
The measles death marks the first in the Empire State in over 30 years, and comes just four weeks after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency in response to a surge in cases of the viral disease.
Hochul said she was heartbroken by the news of the child’s death.
“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,” she said in a statement.
“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,” she added.
“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.”
The child who died wasn’t publicly identified, nor were their age and sex released.
The last New Yorker to die of measles caught the virus during a large outbreak in New York City from March 1990 to the summer of 1991. The virus killed at least 21 people and sickened thousands.
Lewis County, a rural area in the state’s North Country region, has the fourth-highest measles case count in the state, with 15 cases reported this year as of last week. Seneca County currently has the highest, with 30 cases.
Public health records show all 15 cases in the county are among unvaccinated people.
Last month, Hochul issued the executive order emergency to allow the state to respond swiftly to the measles outbreak and enable healthcare professionals to vaccinate more New Yorkers against the highly contagious disease.
Under the State Disaster Emergency, nurses can order measles testing, state officials said.
The state also said it would provide epidemiological support to investigate measles cases, conduct contact tracing, and expedite laboratory testing.
Health officials urged New Yorkers to protect themselves and to ensure they are up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and to heed health advisories if traveling with unvaccinated people, especially children.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications and death. Vaccination is the best protection against measles,” the New York State Department of Health said in a statement.
“The Department has offered resources to Lewis County to assist with community outreach and support local vaccination efforts – both in response to this case, and as part of our ongoing efforts to support counties that are facing this ongoing measles outbreak,” the statement continued.
The highly contagious virus spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk, and can infect an unvaccinated person up to two hours after someone with the illness leaves a room or airspace.
Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash. If the terrifying virus progresses, it can lead to pneumonia, brain infection, and death.
A rash of flat red spots on the face, neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet may also appear three to five days after symptoms begin.
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine — the first administered at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old.
Babies as young as 6 months should get one dose of the MMR vaccine if they are traveling abroad or to an area where measles is prevalent or if they reside in a community with measles transmission.
These babies should then continue to get their next two vaccines on schedule for a total of three vaccines, according to the department.
Additional major measles outbreaks have broken out in other states, such as Pennsylvania and South Carolina, this year.
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