Mississippi health officials have declared a public health emergency after new data revealed a spike in infant deaths, causing the highest infant mortality rate in the state in over a decade.
In Mississippi, there were 9.7 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2024, which is almost double the most recent national average of 5.5 deaths per 1,000, according to the state Department of Health. The state has long struggled with high infant mortality rates. Since 2014, there have been 3,527 babies who have died before their first birthday in the state, public health officials said.
