New York Declares Statewide Disaster Emergency As Measles Cases Continue To Rise

India, Oct. 7 -- Key Points

* New York has become the first U.S. state to declare a statewide disaster emergency in response to the ongoing measles resurgence.* As of October 3, 2026, New York has reported 108 confirmed measles cases so far this year.* Despite eliminating endemic measles more than two decades ago, the United States remains vulnerable to outbreaks, with Pennsylvania reporting the most cases this year, at 1,004.

In response to an ongoing measles outbreak across rural areas of New York and neighboring states, Governor Kathy Hochul has issued an Executive Order declaring a State Disaster Emergency.

What the Executive Order Means

The Executive Order allows the State to strengthen its response to the outbreak, respond more sw...