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Child Dies of Measles in New York's First Such Death in 30 Years

Updated 12:19 PM ET · 9:25 AM ETConfirmedShare via:          

Health Desk

In Short: A child in Lewis County, New York, has died from measles, marking the state's first measles-related death in over three decades.

Health officials announced Monday that a child in Lewis County, about 93 miles north of Syracuse, died after contracting measles, marking New York's first measles-associated death in more than 30 years.

According to the state Health Department, 178 measles cases have been reported in New York in 2026, including 15 cases in Lewis County.

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency in response to the measles outbreak, which expanded who can administer measles vaccines and made additional resources available.

Hochul said in a statement, 'My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child.' She expressed her condolences to the child's family and asked for their privacy to be respected.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. One dose of the MMR vaccine provides 93% protection against measles, while two doses provide 97% protection.

Health officials are urging residents to ensure they are up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three measles-associated deaths in the U.S. This year, but state health departments have reported higher numbers.

In a statement, New York governor Kathy Hochul said she was 'heartbroken' and that the death reflected a crisis of government and public health.

The MMR jab offers 97 percent protection for life after two doses given in childhood and was the major factor in eradicating measles in the U.S. But with higher levels of vaccine skepticism among the public, fewer children are receiving the vaccine.

Prior to the deaths, Pennsylvania hadn’t seen a measles-related death in 35 years. This year, Pennsylvania has experienced a dramatic measles outbreak that has stricken over 1,430 people.

The U.S. Stopped the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but they have fallen in recent years to below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks of the viral disease.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• A child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles, marking New York's first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years, state health officials announced Monday.
• "My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child." The announcement comes about four weeks after Hochul declared a state disaster emergency in response to measles outbreaks in New York and neighboring states.
• "We are deeply saddened by the death of a child in Lewis County associated with the ongoing measles outbreak," officials said, extending condolences to the child's family and asking that their privacy be respected.
• New York officials said Monday that the child died in Lewis County, about 93 miles north of Syracuse.
• The child died in Lewis County, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) north of Syracuse, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
• A measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine at Union Community Care clinic in Lancaster, Pa., on Thursday, Oct.
• A child died of measles in upstate New York, marking the state’s first measles-related death in 30 years, Governor Hochul announced Monday.
• A child in rural northern New York has died after contracting measles.
• It marks the state’s first death from the disease in 30 years.
• “I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Hochul said in a statement.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three measles-associated deaths in the U.S. this year, but state health departments have reported higher numbers.

What's still developing

• The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on X that it was “conducting a targeted enforcement operation” A man was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official on Thursday, Oct. 8 in New York City, while a 5-year-old child was in the car, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
• Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul said they had received reports the agents fired at the man while he was inside a vehicle with a 5-year-old child, who was apparently unhurt.
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• Thunderstorms in the morning will give way to steady rain in the afternoon.
• "She was someone who was able to take very big ideas and distill them succinctly, like a poet, into a few words," said Blake Morgan, pointing to such quotes of hers as "hate generalizes, love specifies."
• Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight.

Sources

• 13WHAM-TVlink
• Ars Technicalink
• Baltimore Sunlink
• Clinton Heraldlink
• Eagle-Tribunelink
• Herald-Bannerlink
• La Voce di New Yorklink
• New York Daily Newslink
• STATlink
• Scientific Americanlink
• Snopeslink
• The Daily Reviewlink
• The Guardianlink
• The Independentlink
• The New York Timeslink
• thedailystar.comlink
• CBS Mornings — video link