Mississippi declares state of emergency due to rising infant mortality rates

Health officials in the US state of Mississippi have declared a public health emergency due to the latest data on rising infant mortality rates.

The latest data shows that the infant mortality rate in this state has reached its highest level in over 10 years, CBS News reports.

According to data from the Mississippi State Department of Health, 9.7 babies died per 1,000 births in 2024, which is nearly double the national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 newborns.

„Every newborn loss represents a destroyed family, an affected community, and an interrupted future. We cannot and will not accept these figures as our reality,“ said Mississippi health official Dan Edney.

Leading causes of infant death in Mississippi include congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome.

SOURCE: EURONEWS PHOTO: PRINTSCREEN/PEXELS