Public health emergency declared in Mississippi over rising infant mortality rates

The Mississippi State Department of Health has declared a public health emergency over rising infant mortality rates – now the highest the state has seen in over a decade.

“Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” MSDH director and state health officer Dr. Dan Edney said. “This is deeply personal to me – not just as a physician but as a father and grandfather. Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted, and a future cut short.”

Data from 2024 shows the state’s infant mortality rate has increased to 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Mississippi, 3,257 babies have died before the age of one since 2014, with the leading causes being congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant De