A child has died after contracting measles in New York State, marking the region’s first measles-related death in 30 years, health authorities say.
The child died in Lewis County, in northern New York, according to county and state health officials.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed sadness over the death, describing it as a heartbreaking loss.
“I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Hochul said in a statement.
“As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through.”
Hochul also criticised the Trump administration’s health policies, linking the tragedy to what she described as a weakening of public health protections.
She said the death was “a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses.”
The death comes as the United States experiences its worst measles outbreak in 35 years.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country recorded 4,834 measles cases across 47 states as of last month.
In October, Hochul declared a disaster emergency in New York following measles outbreaks in the state and neighbouring areas.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 following extensive vaccination campaigns.
However, the highly contagious disease has returned in recent years amid growing vaccine scepticism and declining public trust in health authorities.
Measles symptoms include fever, respiratory problems and painful skin rashes.
Severe cases can lead to complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation, which may result in death.The disease continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths worldwide every year.
