New York declares state disaster emergency over measles. Here's what that means

Key Points:

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency due to a rising measles outbreak, with 108 cases reported in 2025, primarily in under-immunized rural counties, to strengthen response efforts.
• The emergency order allows expanded vaccination authority to pharmacists, EMTs, advanced EMS, and midwives, and removes consent requirements for reporting adult vaccinations to immunization registries to improve vaccination tracking.
• Pennsylvania is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in over 30 years, with more than 1,000 cases, nearly 200 hospitalizations, and five deaths, highlighting a broader national resurgence of measles.
• Measles cases in the U.S. have reached nearly 4,000 this year, the highest since 1991, with outbreaks linked to declining vaccination rates and increased vaccine exemptions among schoolchildren.
• The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for effective prevention, but recent data show a decline in vaccination coverage and a rise in exemptions, contributing to vulnerability in communities.