New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Monday in response to a dramatic increase in measles cases in the state.
The Hochul administration said the emergency declaration was a response to a “growing number of measles cases in rural New York and neighboring states,” including Pennsylvania, which is grappling with a deadly outbreak that is the largest in more than three decades.
The declaration expands the pool of people who can administer measles vaccines and allows more people to order tests.
This comes as there have been 108 confirmed cases of measles in New York so far for the year, compared to just one reported case in 2023. In New York’s neighbor Pennsylvania, five people have died after contracting the disease and there have been 198 hospitalizations.
The state surpassed 1,000 measles cases Monday, while Ohio also saw an increase.
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio have large Amish populations, which tend to be undervaccinated. And undervaccination was a key factor in the spread of measles after its spread in the United States was eliminated in 2000 thanks to high vaccination rates.
“After reviewing the latest data on measles cases in New York State, I am declaring a state of disaster emergency to strengthen our ongoing efforts to address this disease,” Hochul said.
“No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease. That’s why I’ve taken action to increase the number of health care professionals who can vaccinate and test. These emergency measures will protect New Yorkers and support our community partners as they work tirelessly to combat the spread of this disease.”
The United States is experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with nearly 3,900 cases reported.
Of the 108 measles cases in New York, 101 were reported outside New York City, the state said. Since July 15, 92 cases have been reported in underimmunized rural communities.
This is a large increase compared to previous years. Besides the reported case in 2023, there were only 15 in 2024 – and in 2025 there were a total of 48 cases of measles.
The Trump administration’s Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has been criticized for his response to the measles outbreak. Before his appointment as Health Secretary, he was best known as an anti-vaccine campaigner.
Kennedy was the headliner at an anti-vaccine conference in Washington DC in mid-September, as measles cases were rising. He told the crowd they had a “strong and loyal friend in the White House.”
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called Kennedy “incompetent,” and the two men clashed over how to classify measles-related deaths.
“The worrying increase in measles cases is due to a decline in childhood vaccinations driven by misinformation and is causing a public health emergency,” said state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, who chairs the Senate Health Committee.
At least 95% of the population must be vaccinated against measles to prevent epidemics.
Gn Health
