New York reports first measles death in 30 years, Hochul says

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) reported New York’s first measles death in three decades as the state grapples with an outbreak that has seen 178 cases this year.The death occurred in Lewis County, which is located about 400 miles northwest of New York City, and the age of the deceased was not disclosed, only reported to be a child.“I’m heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died from measles,” Hochul said in a statement on X. “My heart goes out to their family and everyone who knew and loved them.” “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 diseases,” she continued. “Vaccination remains our best protection against the heartbreak of another family losing a child to measles.”The New York Department of Health said there have been a total of 170 confirmed cases, with only eight occurring in New York City.A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that it and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with Hochul’s office to respond to the outbreak.“Our hearts go out to the family mourning this tragic loss,” the official said. “At New York’s request, CDC has deployed epidemiologists and other experts to work alongside state health officials on the ground, providing surveillance, data analysis, strategic planning, and other outbreak response support. Secretary Kennedy and CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz continue to make clear that the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles.”Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency last month over the latest numbers linked to the measles outbreak. The governor used the instance to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated, saying she has “taken steps to increase the number of health professionals who can vaccinate and test.”HOCHUL DECLARES DISASTER EMERGENCY OVER NEW YORK MEASLES SURGEAccording to an HHS official, the CDC has provided roughly $100 million in funding nationwide to strengthen prevention and response to measles and other diseases that can be prevented with vaccination. New York state received $2.36 million, and $2.07 million was given to New York City to “strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity, support outbreak investigation and response, address vaccination gaps, and expand culturally appropriate community outreach and engagement.”The death in New York marks the sixth measles-related death reported by state health departments, as Pennsylvania previously reported five such deaths. The CDC has not recorded two of the deaths in Pennsylvania, only reporting three on its website.