New York Declares Measles Disaster Emergency as US Faces Worst Outbreak in More Than 30 Years

New York has declared a statewide disaster emergency over a growing measles outbreak, as the United States faces its worst year for the disease in more than three decades. Governor Kathy Hochul’s order came after the state recorded 108 measles cases through October 3, including 92 since July 15, with most linked to under-immunised rural communities.

The emergency declaration, which remains in effect until November 4, expands access to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and testing. Registered nurses can order diagnostic tests, while pharmacists are authorised to vaccinate children as young as two. More than 1,000 MMR doses have already been administered by local health departments in affected rural areas since July.

The situation in New York is part of a much larger resurgence across the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 3,887 confirmed measles cases by October 1, with 95% associated with outbreaks. The country has reported 42 outbreaks this year, while the number of infections has already far exceeded the 2,289 cases recorded during all of 2025.

Neighbouring Pennsylvania has become one of the biggest centres of the resurgence, passing 1,000 cases this year. State officials reported 1,004 cases, 198 hospitalisations and five deaths, making it the largest outbreak in the state in more than 30 years. Significant outbreaks have also been reported in Texas, Utah, Ohio and South Carolina.

The rise has renewed concern about falling vaccination coverage. Measles is extremely contagious, and public-health experts say vaccination levels need to remain around 95% to prevent sustained community transmission. The US eliminated continuous domestic measles transmission in 2000, but declining vaccination rates have created gaps that allow the virus to spread when it is introduced.

New York had already begun increasing its response before the emergency was announced. The state launched a measles dashboard in September after detecting rising cases in several upstate regions and urged residents to check their vaccination status, particularly before travelling to areas experiencing outbreaks.

The resurgence could also have international consequences. Health officials are due to assess the United States and Mexico’s measles-elimination status in November. Losing that status would represent a significant setback after decades of vaccination and surveillance efforts.

For now, New York’s emergency measures are focused on increasing vaccination, speeding up testing and identifying cases before they can generate further transmission. The scale of the wider outbreak, however, has turned measles from a largely controlled disease in the US into a renewed national public-health concern.