Newborn dies of measles in the US, the second case in a few days

A newborn baby has died in the United States from measles-related complications. This case recorded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services comes just days after another child died from the infection in New York State.

“It is with heavy hearts that we are reporting the first death in many years of a child linked to a measles outbreak in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson said. "Any child death is a tragedy and even more so when it is linked to a vaccine-preventable disease. It is important that all Wisconsinites evaluate their risk and take steps to protect themselves and their family."

Since the beginning of the year, 431 cases of measles have been reported in the state, the highest number in more than 35 years. The last death was registered in 1990. Health authorities did not provide further details on the newborn's death "to protect the privacy of the family and the child".

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services then appealed to "Wisconsin residents to be proactive in disease prevention to protect themselves and the community. The best way to prevent measles is with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Two doses are 97% effective."