New York declares measles disaster emergency

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday declared the first statewide disaster emergency this year over a measles outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people. New York has reported 108 measles cases as of Oct. 3, according to state officials, with most cases occurring outside New York City. Seven cases occurred in the city, while the rest were confirmed elsewhere in the state. According to state officials, 92 cases have been reported since July 15 in rural communities across 18 counties where vaccination rates are low.

Local health departments have administered more than 1,000 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in rural areas during that period. “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,” Hochul said in a statement. “No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease.” The declaration, which will remain in effect through Nov. 4, gives health officials broader authority to respond to the outbreak, including expanding the group of medical professionals who can administer measles vaccines and allowing nurses to order testing for suspected cases.

Paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists and midwives are among those newly authorized to administer vaccines in addition to physicians. The newly expanded eligible pool allows those individuals to administer the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to children as young as two-years-old. The rate of infection also requires providers to report MMR vaccinations to immunization registries within 72 hours. The emergency declaration comes as neighboring Pennsylvania confronts an even larger outbreak, with cases surpassing 1,000 this week.

The latest Pennsylvania Department of Health dashboard has recorded 1,004 total measles cases in the state so far this year as of Tuesday morning, including 198 hospitalizations and five deaths. A third of those cases occurred in individuals under 18-years-old. Nearly 3,900 cases have been reported nationwide, the highest annual total since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.