New York governor declares state of emergency after spike in measles cases

Key Points:

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency due to a significant increase in measles cases, particularly in rural areas and neighboring states like Pennsylvania, which is experiencing its deadliest outbreak in over 30 years.
• The emergency declaration allows more healthcare professionals to administer vaccines and order testing, aiming to curb the spread of the disease amid 108 confirmed cases in New York this year, a sharp rise from just one case in 2023.
• Pennsylvania has reported five measles-related deaths and 198 hospitalizations, while Ohio and other states with sizable undervaccinated Amish populations have also seen increases in cases.
• The US is facing its worst measles outbreak since 1991, with nearly 3,900 cases nationwide, largely attributed to declining vaccination rates fueled by misinformation and anti-vaccine activism.
• Controversy surrounds Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration’s health secretary and former anti-vaccine activist, who has been criticized for his handling of the outbreak and has clashed publicly with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro over measles-related deaths.