A child has died following a measles infection in the rural northern region of New York State. Authorities confirmed on Monday that this is the first death caused by the disease in the state in 30 years. The victim passed away in Lewis County, located approximately 150 kilometers north of Syracuse, according to Governor Kathy Hochul.
Governor Hochul described the child's death as a devastating reminder of what is at stake when decades of progress in protecting the US population from preventable diseases are deliberately undermined in Washington. In response to rising infection numbers, she declared a state of emergency in early October. This measure allows the state to react more quickly to the outbreak and grants medical personnel additional authority to vaccinate and test residents as needed.
The emergency order expanded the circle of individuals authorized to administer measles vaccinations. Furthermore, it empowered nursing staff to order tests alongside physicians. While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed three measles-related deaths nationwide this year, individual state health authorities are reporting higher figures. Health officials in Pennsylvania have already reported five deaths this year and are investigating a possible sixth case.
Measles was eliminated in the United States in 2000 through the maintenance of high vaccination rates. However, these rates have fallen below the 95 percent threshold required to prevent outbreaks in recent years. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appointed as Health Minister by President Donald Trump, has faced criticism regarding the rising infection numbers after repeatedly expressing doubts about the efficacy and necessity of vaccinations.
Sources: Der Spiegel.