A child in Lewis County has died from measles / New York reports its first death in 30 years

A child from Lewis County, New York, died after contracting measles, authorities announced Monday. It is the first death caused by the disease in the region in the past 30 years, amid an outbreak and declining vaccination rates.

Governor Kathy Hochul and state health authorities expressed their condolences to the family, without providing further details about the child.

In 2026, 178 measles cases were reported in the state, including 170 outside New York City. Lewis County recorded 15 cases. Nationwide, the number of confirmed cases has surpassed 4,800 since the beginning of the year.

Measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, but it has returned in recent years amid distrust of health authorities and declining vaccination rates. In October, New York declared a state of emergency due to the rising number of illnesses.

Authorities recommend vaccination with the MMR vaccine. Two doses provide approximately 97% protection against measles, a disease that can cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and death.