New York has declared a statewide disaster emergency as measles infections continue to spread, raising fresh concerns over declining vaccination coverage in parts of the United States.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Monday in response to the outbreak and temporarily expanded the pool of health-care professionals who can administer measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines. The emergency declaration will remain in effect through November 4.
New York had recorded 108 measles cases as of October 3, according to state officials. Seven cases were reported in New York City, while 101 occurred elsewhere in the state. Since July 15, 92 cases have been identified across 18 rural counties, many of which have relatively low vaccination rates.
Hochul said people should not face serious illness or death from a disease that can be prevented through vaccination. The emergency measures are intended to help health authorities respond more quickly, expand vaccination efforts and increase access to testing.
The outbreak is not confined to New York. Neighboring Pennsylvania has reported 1,004 confirmed measles cases across 39 counties this year, with 198 hospitalizations and five confirmed measles-associated deaths, according to the state’s Department of Health. The outbreak began in late April.
Pennsylvania has intensified its vaccination campaign in response. State health workers have administered more than 8,800 MMR doses during 2026, including more than 5,700 doses through pop-up vaccination clinics in communities affected by the outbreak.
Measles has also been reported in several other parts of the United States, including Texas, Utah, Ohio and South Carolina. Public-health experts say maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to preventing sustained transmission because measles is extremely contagious.
Health authorities generally aim for vaccination coverage of at least 95 percent to maintain strong community protection. Falling coverage can leave larger numbers of people vulnerable to infection and allow outbreaks to spread more easily.
The resurgence has also renewed debate over vaccine misinformation and declining confidence in routine immunization. Public-health officials have repeatedly emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing measles and limiting outbreaks.
The United States declared measles eliminated as an endemic disease in 2000, meaning there was no longer continuous transmission of the virus within the country. However, imported cases and subsequent outbreaks have continued to occur.
The latest outbreak is also being closely watched ahead of a November review by the Pan American Health Organization’s Regional Verification Commission. PAHO says the review will assess the measles-elimination status of the United States and Mexico, with particular attention to countries experiencing active or sustained outbreaks.
PAHO has stressed that maintaining high and evenly distributed vaccination coverage, strong disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response are essential to preventing the re-establishment of sustained measles transmission.
The developments have placed renewed pressure on U.S. health authorities to close vaccination gaps and prevent localized outbreaks from developing into sustained transmission.
