New York hit with severe health emergency amid surge in measles outbreak.
As per NBC's report on Tuesday, the Governor of the New York, Kathy Hochul, has declared a statewide health emergency over a measles outbreak.
This marks New York's first such preemtive measure by a U.S. state since the surge in measles cases began in 2025.
The government also announced that the health professionals will be allowed to administer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines in rural communities.
Hochul in his official stamenet noted “No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease.”
How many cases of measles have been reported as of now?
As of October 3, total 108 cases of measles have been reported in New York, including 92 from under-immunized rural communities across 18 counties, which were reported till July 15.
According to the governer's office, out of 108, only seven cases are from New York City, while other 101 are elsewhere in the state.
What we know about measles outbreak in Pennsylvania
As of October 2, Pennsylvania is dealing with a fast-spreading outbreak, with 977 cases and five deaths.
Most cases have been reported in rural counties of Pennsylvania that that border New York.
On Monday, Pennsylvanian health officials confirmed that the state is going through the largest state outbreak in more than three decades with a total of 1,000 cases.
How 2026 is the worst measles year since 1991
The US is having its worst year for measles since 1991, with nearly 3,900 cases reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles and pharmacists to vaccinate children as young as two.
It also requires all MMR vaccinations to be reported to state or New York City immunization registries within 72 hours, while waiving adults’ consent for such reporting.
Vaccination itself still requires the consent of the patient or a legal guardian. The emergency took effect on Monday and runs through November 4.
