A 7-month-old child in New York died of measles on Monday, marking the state’s first death from the disease in more than 30 years. Lewis County Coroner and District Attorney Jeffery Tompkins confirmed to The New York Times that the infant was unvaccinated.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was “heartbroken” by the death, calling it a reminder of the stakes involved in preventing illnesses through vaccination. Last month, she declared measles a statewide disaster.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that affects the respiratory tract. More than 5,000 cases have been counted in the United States so far, the highest total in 35 years, according to the source report. Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,000 cases this year, including 140 in the past two weeks. The outbreaks could put the country’s measles elimination status, achieved in 2000, at risk.
Vaccination rates have also declined. The share of kindergartners who received the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 92.4 percent, below the 95 percent threshold cited for herd immunity. CDC data indicate that about 96 percent of people infected with measles this year were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Children typically receive their first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months of age. During a community outbreak, public health authorities may recommend a dose from 6 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the vaccine is the best way to prevent measles and limit outbreaks.
The United States is not the only high-income country seeing a rise in cases. The Pan American Health Organization revoked Canada’s measles elimination status last year after 12 months of continuous transmission, while the United Kingdom is also experiencing an increase. Experts have linked outbreaks in both countries to falling vaccination rates.
PAHO is scheduled to meet from November 10 to 13, when the United States is widely expected to lose its measles elimination status.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine.