New York Child Dies from Measles Amid CDC Delay

Health officials in New York announced late Monday that a child has died from measles, marking the first reported measles-associated death in the state in more than 30 years.

This death is the seventh measles-linked death reported in the US this year, with six of the others occurring in Pennsylvania, which is experiencing a significant measles outbreak affecting over 1,430 people.

Prior to the recent deaths, Pennsylvania had not seen a measles-related death in 35 years. The state has reported 170 measles cases across over a dozen counties.

Days before the seventh preventable measles death, The Washington Post reported that CDC scientists were blocked from publishing an urgent health alert about measles during pregnancy. The alert was intended for clinicians to manage the risks associated with measles infections in pregnant individuals.

The CDC Director’s Office denied approval for the alert, and scientists are now considering publishing the information outside the agency. Pennsylvania released its own alert on measles in pregnancy and congenital measles on October 19.

New York has not released details about the child who died, including age. Other reported deaths this year include babies and individuals with underlying health conditions, all of whom were unvaccinated.

Pennsylvania’s health department is currently reporting five deaths, with an investigation into a sixth death still pending. A Franklin County judge has ordered that information about the death be sealed, and The Philadelphia Inquirer has taken legal action to obtain certain death record details.

The CDC has reported only three of the seven deaths this year, with some early deaths reportedly deleted at Kennedy’s request. The agency now relies on federal death records, which can take weeks to process and are not suited for real-time outbreak response.