The New York governor, Kathy Hochul, declared a state of emergency on Monday in response to a dramatic spike in measles cases in the state. This declaration comes as the state faces a growing number of measles cases across rural areas of New York and neighboring states, particularly Pennsylvania, which is experiencing its largest outbreak in over three decades.
Emergency Declaration Details
The emergency declaration expands the pool of individuals authorized to administer vaccines against measles and allows more people to order testing. So far this year, there have been 108 confirmed cases of measles in New York, a significant increase from just one reported case in 2023. In Pennsylvania, five people have died from the disease, and there have been 198 hospitalizations. The state surpassed 1,000 measles cases on Monday, with Ohio also reporting an increase.
Contributing Factors
New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio have sizable Amish populations, which tend to be undervaccinated. This undervaccination has been a key factor in the resurgence of measles, which had been eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to high vaccination rates.
““After reviewing the latest data on measles cases in New York state, I am declaring a State Disaster Emergency to strengthen our ongoing efforts to confront this disease,” said Hochul. “No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease. That is why I have taken steps to increase the number of health professionals who can vaccinate and test. These emergency measures will protect New Yorkers and support our community partners as they work tirelessly to address the spread of this disease.”
