Child dies of measles in New York's first such death in 30 years as the governor blames Washington
Governor Kathy Hochul, whose October emergency order expanded access to the MMR vaccine, described the child's death as a reminder of what is at stake "when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress.
A child has died from measles in Lewis County in rural northern New York — the state's first such fatality in more than three decades — coming just four weeks after Governor Kathy Hochul issued a state disaster emergency declaration amid a surge in cases. Hochul described the death as "a devastating reminder of what's at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses."
The CDC has confirmed three measles-associated deaths across the US this year, while Pennsylvania alone has reported five deaths and is investigating a potential sixth.
The US eliminated domestic measles transmission in 2000, but vaccination coverage has since fallen below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
Hochul's October emergency order expanded who can administer the MMR vaccine, adding paramedics, midwives and nurses to the list.
