Mississippi Declares Public Health Emergency Over Infant Deaths

Key Takeaways

Mississippi’s infant death rate hit 9.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024Nearly half of Mississippi counties lack maternity careExperts say Medicaid plays a critical role in maternal and infant care

MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Mississippi has declared a public health emergency after reporting its highest infant death rate in more than a decade.

In 2024, the state had 9.7 infant deaths for every 1,000 births, health officials said. That’s more than 60% higher than the national average and the state’s highest rate in more than a decade. Since 2014, more than 3,500 babies in Mississippi have died before their first birthday.

“Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted and a future cut short,” State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney