Mississippi health department announces public health emergency due to increasing rates of infant mortality

The Mississippi health department has announced a public health emergency due to the increasing rates of infant mortality. According to the state health department, there were 9.7 deaths for every 1,000 births in Mississippi last year, marking the highest rate in over a decade. While data from the CDC indicated that the national infant mortality rate increased for the first time in 20 years in 2022, Mississippi recorded the highest infant mortality rate among all 50 states, exceeding the national average by more than 60%. Since 2014, over 3,500 infants in the state have passed away before reaching their first birthday. "The declaration of a public health emergency by the Mississippi Department of Health in response to infant mortality serves as a painful reminder of the maternal and infant health crisis confronting our nation," stated Cindy Rahman, president and CEO of March of Dimes. "These tragic losses should serve as a wake-up call to the nation," she further remarked.