New York Declares Emergency Amid 108 Measles Cases

Sam Okafor · 2026-10-05T22:20:26.282Z

It's smart to expand who can give vaccines and tests when cases hit 108 already this year.

New York Declares Emergency Amid 108 Measles Cases — Photo: Whispyhistory / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sponsored

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, over a measles outbreak, the first such U.S. state declaration since cases began surging in 2025. It took effect that day and runs through November 4. New York reported 108 measles cases this year through October 3, including 92 since July 15 in under-immunized rural communities across 18 counties; seven cases were in New York City and 101 elsewhere. Local health departments have administered more than 1,000 MMR doses in rural areas since July 15. In a statement with the declaration, Hochul said, "No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease." The order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles and pharmacists to vaccinate children as young as two. MMR vaccinations must be reported to state or NYC immunization registries within 72 hours, with adult consent waived for reporting only; vaccination itself still requires patient or legal-guardian consent. Pennsylvania had 977 cases and five deaths as of October 2; state health officials said Monday the total had passed 1,000. The U.S. has nearly 3,900 measles cases this year, the worst since 1991, per the CDC.