State’s Infant Mortality Rate Triggers Public Health Emergency

Mississippi health officials have declared a public health emergency after reporting the state’s highest infant mortality rate in over a decade.

“In Mississippi, 9.7 infants died for every 1,000 live births in 2024, nearly double the most recent national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000, according to the state Department of Health,” CBS News stated.

“Since 2014, more than 3,500 Mississippi infants have died before their first birthday,” it continued.

The state’s infant mortality rate is higher than war-torn Ukraine, reports said.

More coverage below:

Mississippi health officials have declared a public health emergency as the state faces its highest infant mortality rate in over ten years.

The top causes include birth defects, premature births, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

“Too many Mississippi… pic.twitter.com/fKIu2xq2ZA

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) August 26, 2025

CBS News shared further details:

The leading causes of infant death in Mississippi include congenital malformations, premature birth, low birthweight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Disparities remain stark — Black infants in Mississippi are more than twice as likely as White infants to die before their first birthday, and recent state data show those racial gaps have widened.

Despite growing concerns, declaring a public health emergency for infant mortality is unusual.

“This is a novel and necessary step,” said Dr. Michael Warren, Chief Medical and Health Officer at March of Dimes. “It elevates infant mortality to the level of urgent crisis response, which it truly is.”

State officials said the declaration allows them to move more quickly to address gaps in care.

Their plan includes expanding prenatal services in counties without obstetric providers, creating an obstetric system of care to regionalize services and improve emergency transfers, and strengthening home visiting and community health worker programs.

Mississippi’s infant mortality rate last year was the highest level since 2013.

CBS Evening News provided additional coverage:

Mississippi has declared a public health emergency over the rising infant mortality rate, which last year reached the highest level since 2013. CBS News’ Dr. @celinegounder explains what is behind the infant mortality crisis and what’s being done to help. pic.twitter.com/iFgQzb1C6q

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 23, 2025

More from the Washington Examiner:

State officials said they are implementing a multipronged strategy to eliminate areas of the state with few to no obstetricians, called “OB deserts.” Officials are also connecting mothers and their babies with community resources and partnering with hospitals and other medical providers to close any gaps in maternal care resources.

Nearly half of all counties in Mississippi are considered “OB deserts,” according to the maternal health nonprofit organization March of Dimes, a fact it said can leave “families with little or no access to maternity care and putting them at greater risk for poor outcomes.”

“Improving maternal health is the best way to reduce infant mortality,” Edney said. “That means better access to prenatal and postpartum care, stronger community support, and more resources for moms and babies. Healthy women of childbearing age are more likely to have healthy pregnancies, which in turn lead to healthier babies.”