Mississippi health officials have declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp rise in infant mortality, now at its highest level in more than a decade.

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 9.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024. Since 2014, 3,527 infants in the state have died before their first birthday.

“We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. “Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives.”

The nationwide infant mortality rate was 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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