Stories
New York Declares State Emergency Over Measles Outbreak Amid US Surge
- •New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on October 5 due to a rising measles outbreak.
- •The state has reported 108 measles cases this year through October 3, with a significant surge in under-immunised rural communities.
- •Neighboring Pennsylvania is facing its largest state outbreak in over three decades, surpassing 1,000 cases and five deaths.
- •The emergency order expands the pool of health professionals allowed to administer MMR vaccines and order tests.
- •The US is currently experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991, with nearly 3,900 cases reported nationwide.
Key Questions Answered
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency following a surge in measles cases, marking the first such declaration by a US state since the outbreak surge began in 2025. The state reported 108 cases through October 3, with 92 concentrated in under-immunised rural communities across 18 counties since July 15.
The emergency order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles and permits pharmacists to administer MMR vaccines to children as young as two. Furthermore, it requires all MMR vaccinations to be reported to state or city immunisation registries within 72 hours while waiving adult consent for reporting, though actual vaccination still requires patient or guardian consent.
Neighboring Pennsylvania is experiencing its largest state outbreak in over three decades, surpassing 1,000 cases with five deaths reported as of early October. Most of these infections are concentrated in rural counties that border New York.
