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Wisconsin reports measles death of a baby, first death in over 35 years
Ars Technica • • general
Key Points:
- An infant in Wisconsin has died from measles, marking the state's first measles death since 1990 amid an outbreak affecting over 430 people across 13 counties this year.
- This is the third measles death reported nationally this week, following fatalities in New York and Pennsylvania, with a total of nine measles deaths reported in the US so far in 2023.
- The CDC reports 5,182 measles cases across 47 states in 2023, the highest since 1991, with underreporting likely due to some communities' reluctance to seek medical care.
- The US lost its measles elimination status due to declining vaccination rates and misinformation, prompting an upcoming WHO regional committee review to determine if measles has reestablished in the country.
- Measles-related deaths and outbreak data have become politically contentious, with changes in CDC reporting methods and disputes over the confirmation of measles-associated deaths, particularly in Pennsylvania.
