Isophoric News · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
A child in Lewis County has died of measles, the first known measles-associated death in New York State in more than 30 years
A child in Lewis County died in association with the ongoing measles outbreak, the state Department of Health and Lewis County Public Health said in a joint statement Monday, Nov. 2, calling it the first known measles-associated death in New York State in more than 30 years. The agencies asked that the family's privacy be respected and said the state has offered Lewis County resources for community outreach and vaccination. As of Oct. 24 the state had counted 178 measles cases this year, 170 outside New York City and eight in the city, according to the health department. Lewis County has had 15 cases, all among unvaccinated people, according to the state's measles dashboard as reported by NewYorkUpstate, the fourth-highest count among the state's 62 counties after Seneca (30), Otsego (21) and Steuben (19); the same dashboard listed 12 cases in Oswego County. The death came four weeks after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency over the outbreak, the health department said. The department said one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine gives 93 percent protection and two doses 97 percent, and its outbreak guidance recommends an early dose for infants 6 months and older who are traveling or live in a community with measles transmission.