A child has died of measles in Lewis County — marking New York State's first fatal measles case in three decades — as an outbreak spreads among upstate communities with low vaccination rates, according to Gothamist.
The family should be given privacy, New York State and Lewis County health officials urged in a joint statement.
Here's what to know
The New York State Department of Health recorded 178 confirmed infections as of Oct. 24, most of them reported since August.
Only eight of the reported cases occurred in New York City.
More clinicians are eligible to administer vaccines and perform measles tests under an emergency disaster declaration Gov. Kathy Hochul issued in response to the outbreak.
Officials from the health departments of Otsego and Seneca counties, both affected by the outbreak, told Gothamist that official figures likely substantially undercount infections.
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No further details about the child's death have been released by either New York State or Lewis County health officials.
More background
A rash is typically not the first sign of measles.
Fever, a runny nose, and watery eyes generally appear a few days earlier, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Measles is highly contagious.
New York is not alone in facing outbreaks. Gothamist also cited outbreaks in communities in neighboring Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the country.
As of Oct. 30, almost 5,000 infections had been confirmed across the U.S., a total not seen since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What's being done?
Vaccination and community outreach were the primary forms of assistance New York State health officials offered Lewis County after the child's death, Gothamist reported.
State health officials affirmed that support is available "both in response to this case, and as part of our ongoing efforts to support counties that are facing this ongoing measles outbreak."
Hochul's administration is getting help monitoring infections and limiting transmission from epidemiologists sent to New York by the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the agency.
Hochul acknowledged the family's loss in a statement.
"I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles," she remarked.
"As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through."
Where can I learn more?
Bangladesh is also working to contain measles, while communities in the U.S. face outbreaks of other diseases. These stories cover Bangladesh's vaccination campaign, a Kansas school norovirus outbreak, and poultry-linked Salmonella infections.
• Bangladesh is racing to vaccinate 19.7 million children as measles and dengue strain health services.
• A Kansas elementary school's norovirus outbreak sickened 97, highlighting the limits of hand sanitizer.
• Across the U.S., backyard poultry-linked Salmonella infections reached 1,061, with another death reported.
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