Lewis County child dies of measles in New York

Authorities in New York announced on Monday that a child in Lewis County died from measles. This marks the first death from the disease in the state in 30 years. The child lived in a rural area located about 150 kilometers north of Syracuse.

Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, confirmed the death in a statement. She described the event as a devastating reminder of what is at stake. Hochul argued that Washington is deliberately eroding decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable diseases.

The United States stopped the internal spread of measles in 2000. This success relied on keeping vaccination rates high. In recent years, those rates have dropped below the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of the viral disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed three measles deaths in the United States this year. State health departments have reported higher numbers. Pennsylvania officials reported five deaths this year and are investigating a possible sixth case.

Hochul declared a state of emergency in early October. She cited measles cases in neighboring states and rural parts of New York as the cause. The executive order expanded the list of people allowed to administer measles vaccines. Paramedics, midwives, and other professionals can now give the shots. The order also allowed nurses to join doctors in requesting tests for the disease.