New York governor says case is ‘devastating reminder of what’s at stake’ when vaccine protections are eroded

Hochul linked the death to the federal government’s stance on immunisation, saying: “This is New York’s first measles-related death in 30 years, a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses.”

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious health complications. Although rare, deaths from measles occur in approximately one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

The US stopped the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but they have fallen in recent years to below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks of the viral disease.