New York reports first measles-associated death in more than 30 years

The New York State Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health said on Monday that a child in Lewis County, a rural county in northern New York, died linked to the ongoing measles outbreak. It is the first known measles-associated death in New York in more than 30 years.

In a joint statement, the agencies said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of a child in Lewis County associated with the ongoing measles outbreak." They did not release the child's age, vaccination status or date of death.

As of Oct. 24, New York had logged 178 measles cases this year with eight in New York City, the state Department of Health said. NBC News reported Monday that 170 cases were outside the city and 15 were in Lewis County.

Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency because of the outbreak in parts of New York and nearby states. Under the order, registered nurses may order specimen collection and testing for suspected measles. Reuters reported that Hochul said in October the state would pursue federal help to control the outbreak, though she did not say whether a formal request for a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service response had been filed.

After the death was announced, Hochul said: "Measles is highly contagious, and vaccination remains our best protection against this dangerous disease."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 4,852 measles cases nationally this year as of Friday, according to NBC News. ABC News said the national figure is the largest since 1991 and that unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination status account for at least 96% of U.S. cases this year.

Pennsylvania has had the most cases, with 1,433 confirmed infections and 269 hospitalizations, NBC News reported. NBC News said six people had died in Pennsylvania, while Reuters reported five measles-associated deaths there. Reuters also reported that the CDC has recorded three measles-related deaths nationally this year but has not named the states. That gap followed the CDC's switch to National Center for Health Statistics mortality data rather than state health department figures under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Reuters reported.

State officials said they are collaborating with county health departments and local groups to offer MMR shots to unvaccinated people who ask for them and to look into reported infections. They urged residents to make sure they are current on MMR vaccination. The CDC recommends two MMR doses, the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years. One dose is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective. During outbreaks, infants aged 6 to 11 months may receive a dose earlier than the routine first dose.

Update, November 3, 2026

Federal health officials have sent CDC disease investigators to New York to help with the measles outbreak. In an emailed statement to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the agency responded to the state's request by deploying epidemiologists and other experts to assist local health workers. The team is handling case monitoring, information review, planning and other response duties, the federal department said. Separately, New York's health department said it has offered Lewis County support for community outreach and vaccination work.