A measles alert sign hangs outside the entrance to the Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, US ( Photo- Reuters)

Measles cases surge in New York, governor declares statewide disaster emergency

Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide disaster emergency in New York as measles cases rise. The order expands outbreak response powers while infections increase in rural counties and nearby Pennsylvania.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Most new infections emerged in under-immunised rural communities across 18 counties
  • Emergency rules let nurses order tests and pharmacists give MMR shots
  • All MMR doses must reach state or city registries within 72 hours

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on Monday as measles cases continued to rise, marking the first such declaration by a US state since cases began surging in 2025.

The state has recorded 108 measles cases this year through October 3, including 92 reported since July 15 in under-immunised rural communities across 18 counties, according to the executive order. Seven cases were reported in New York City, while 101 were recorded elsewhere in the state.

The emergency order, effective through November 4, expands the pool of health professionals who can help respond to the outbreak. Registered nurses will be allowed to order tests for suspected measles, while pharmacists can administer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines to children aged two and above.

The order also requires all MMR vaccinations to be reported to New York state or New York City immunisation registries within 72 hours. However, vaccination itself still requires consent from the patient or a legal guardian.

"No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease," Hochul said in a statement.

Local health departments have administered more than 1,000 MMR doses in rural areas since July 15 as officials work to contain the outbreak.

The situation has also worsened in neighbouring Pennsylvania, which reported 977 measles cases and five deaths as of October 2, according to New York's executive order. Most cases have been recorded in rural counties bordering New York. Pennsylvania health officials said Monday that the state's total had crossed 1,000 cases, making it the largest state measles outbreak in more than three decades.

The US is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991, with nearly 3,900 cases reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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