Child Dies Of Measles In New York, First State Fatality In 30 Years

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed grief over a child who died from measles-related illness in New York.

The child death marks the state’s first death linked to the disease in three decades, health authorities said on Monday.

The child died in Lewis County, in the northern part of the state, according to county and state health officials.

Governor Hochul who described the death as heartbreaking in a statement said “I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,”

“As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through.”

Hochul, a Democrat, also criticised the health policies of the administration of United States President Donald Trump, linking the tragedy to what she described as the weakening of public health protections.

She said the incident was “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 grapples with its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with infections reported across much of the country.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4,834 measles cases had been recorded in 47 states as of October 29.

In October, Hochul declared a disaster emergency in New York following outbreaks in the state and neighbouring areas.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 after years of extensive vaccination campaigns. However, the highly contagious disease has resurfaced in recent years amid growing vaccine scepticism and declining public trust in health authorities.

Measles can cause fever, respiratory symptoms and painful skin rashes. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, potentially resulting in death.

Despite the availability of effective vaccines, measles continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths worldwide each year.

AFP