New York Declares State of Emergency Amid Measles Outbreak

New York has declared a state of emergency in response to a significant increase in measles cases across the state and in neighboring regions.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the declaration Monday, aiming to bolster efforts to combat the highly contagious disease. The emergency order expands the pool of healthcare professionals authorized to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, including paramedics, advanced EMS workers, midwives, and pharmacists, in addition to physicians. It also enhances the state's capacity for monitoring, vaccination, and testing.

"No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease," Hochul stated. "These emergency measures will protect New Yorkers and support our community partners as they work tirelessly to address the spread of this disease."

As of the declaration, New York City has confirmed seven measles cases, while the rest of the state reports 102 cases, totaling 109. Rural counties are particularly affected, with Otsego County reporting 20 cases, Seneca County 18, and Steuben County 14. This year's total surpasses the number of cases seen in 2025 and marks the highest count since 2019.

Since July 15, approximately 92 measles cases have been reported among communities with low vaccination rates in 18 counties. Local health departments have since administered over 1,000 doses of the MMR vaccine in these rural areas. The state health department has also launched a measles dashboard to track cases.

Nationwide, the United States is experiencing a resurgence of measles, with over 3,880 cases reported this year, the highest number since 1991. Pennsylvania has been the hardest-hit state, with more than 960 cases. Measles infections have been reported in 45 states. Five measles-associated deaths have been reported by Pennsylvania health authorities, though the CDC has confirmed two of those as directly linked to the virus.

About 95 percent of individuals infected with measles this year were either unvaccinated or had not disclosed their vaccination status. The majority of cases involve school-aged children (ages 5-19), with 1,652 infections, followed by adults aged 20 and older, with 1,533 infections. A total of 352 hospitalizations have occurred, including 96 children under five years old.

Measles is an extremely infectious disease that spreads through respiratory droplets. Symptoms typically begin with flu-like illness before a characteristic rash appears. In severe instances, it can lead to pneumonia or encephalitis (brain swelling). Individuals under five years old, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable. Without vaccination, approximately one in 1,000 infected individuals can develop encephalitis, and one to three in 1,000 can die from the disease. The MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, is highly effective in preventing infection, reducing the risk by 97 percent.