As of October 3, New York has reported 108 confirmed measles cases for the year. Of these, 101 cases occurred outside of New York City, with 92 specifically reported in under-immunized rural communities across 18 counties since July 15. This represents a stark contrast to previous years: the state recorded only one case in 2023, 15 in 2024, and 48 in 2025. Local health departments have administered over 1,000 doses of the MMR vaccine in rural areas since mid-July in an effort to curb the spread.
The emergency declaration is driven by the transmission dynamics of the virus, which is highly contagious and had been declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 following high vaccination rates. For the subsequent 25 years, the U.S. averaged just 180 cases annually. However, domestic spread has re-emerged due to pockets of undervaccination, particularly in rural communities with sizable Amish populations, which are documented to have lower vaccination rates. The current outbreak is part of a broader national trend, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting nearly 3,900 cases nationwide, marking the worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1991.
Neighboring Pennsylvania is experiencing a severe outbreak that has heavily impacted the region. As of October 2, Pennsylvania reported 977 cases and five deaths, with the state surpassing 1,000 total cases on Monday. This makes it the largest measles outbreak in the state in more than three decades. The outbreak is centered in rural counties bordering New York, and officials have issued warnings regarding potential exposure at the Philadelphia International Airport. While New York’s 108 cases are fewer than those in Pennsylvania or other recent U.S. outbreaks—such as the 762 cases in West Texas last year and nearly 1,000 in South Carolina earlier this year—the rapid rise in rural New York communities prompted the state’s emergency response.
The executive order allows registered nurses to order tests for suspected measles and permits pharmacists to vaccinate children as young as two years old. It also mandates that all MMR vaccinations be reported to state or New York City immunization registries within 72 hours, waiving the requirement for adult consent for such reporting, though patient or guardian consent is still required for the vaccination itself. Governor Hochul stated that the measures are intended to protect residents from a vaccine-preventable disease, emphasizing that no one should suffer serious illness or death from measles.
The federal response to the outbreak has drawn political attention. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism regarding his handling of the crisis, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro calling him “incompetent” during a dispute over the classification of measles-related deaths. Despite the political tensions, public health officials in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia are working to ensure exposed infants receive preventative antibody products to mitigate severe disease and contain further transmission.
