Summary
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State Disaster Emergency due to a rise in measles cases in New York and nearby states. The emergency allows more healthcare workers to vaccinate people and helps speed up the response as measles cases increase across the U.S.Key Facts
- New York City has 7 confirmed measles cases, and there are 101 cases elsewhere in New York State as of October 3.
- Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 after the vaccine was developed.
- The emergency order lets paramedics, pharmacists, midwives, and others give measles vaccines.
- The CDC reported 3,887 measles cases in the U.S. so far in 2026, with 352 hospitalizations and 2 deaths.
- Pennsylvania has the most cases, with over 1,000 reported and 5 measles-related deaths.
- There is a disagreement between Pennsylvania’s Governor and federal officials on how to count measles-related deaths.
- Measles spreads quickly in communities where fewer than 95% of people are vaccinated.
- Vaccination rates have slightly dropped in the U.S., contributing to the outbreaks.
