Health officials say New York City's infant mortality rate in 2013 reached the lowest it has ever been in city history though racial disparities persist.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett says falling infant mortality rates are good but babies born to poor mothers are still more likely to die in their first year.
Statistics released Friday show there were 4.6 deaths within the first year per 1,000 live births in 2013. That's a 24.6 percent drop from 6.1 in 2004.
In 2012 the national rate was 6.0 per 1,000 live births.
The 2013 mortality rate for black infants in New York City was 8.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. The rate was 3.0 per 1,000 births for white infants.
Mortality rates were nearly twice as great in poor neighborhoods.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
