Unvaccinated Infant Dies After Measles Infection in Lewis County
A 7-month-old unvaccinated boy from an Amish family died from measles, marking New York's first measles-related death in three decades, officials said.
A 7-month-old boy from the Amish community in Denmark, Lewis County, died on Sunday after contracting measles, according to the county coroner and district attorney Jeffery Tompkins. The child was unvaccinated, the officials said.
State health officials confirmed the death as New York's first measles-related fatality in 30 years and urged the public to follow vaccination guidelines. Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, explained that during an active outbreak the first dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended at six months, with subsequent doses at 12 months and four years.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed sympathy for the family and reiterated the state's commitment to established public-health measures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a statement offering condolences and noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had deployed epidemiologists to assist with the outbreak response.
Lewis County Public Health reported a total of 16 confirmed measles cases, all among unvaccinated individuals, and added that one new case was identified on Tuesday.
"We ask our community to offer compassion and respect for the family’s privacy during this heartbreaking time," the state public-health statement read.
"In New York, we will continue to stand by proven public health measures and do everything we can to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said.
Health officials continue to emphasize that the MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against measles.