New York just recorded something it hadn’t seen since the 1990s

NewsNew York hasn’t seen this happen in 30 yearsA child in Lewis County, New York, has died after catching measles, state health officials said Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Officials urge families to make sure they are vaccinated.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)APA child in Lewis County, a rural area in northern New York, died after catching the disease, state officials announced Monday, The Jerusalem Post reported. State health officials asked people to respect the family’s privacy. Health officials also did not say whether the child had been vaccinated, public radio station WRVO Public Media reported. Lewis County has had 15 measles cases this year. Measles is a virus that spreads very easily through the air. You can catch it just by being in a room up to two hours after a sick person leaves. It can cause a high fever and rash, and sometimes serious problems like brain swelling. The good news? The measles vaccine works well. Two doses are about 97% effective, the state health department says. The U.S. stopped measles from spreading here in 2000. But fewer kids are getting vaccinated now. Thousands of cases have been reported across the country this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency in October to fight the outbreak. New York state reports its first measles-linked child death in over 30 years amid the regional outbreak, The Korea Times reported via Reuters. Neighboring Pennsylvania has been hit even harder, with more than 1,400 cases and five deaths. Hochul said she was “heartbroken” by the news. Health officials are urging families to make sure everyone is up to date on their shots. Chris Pugh covers trending news and national breaking stories, focusing on the moments, conversations, and cultural flashpoints shaping the national news cycle. Chris worked as a digital reporter for...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.