Published Oct. 6, 2026. New York has declared a statewide disaster emergency over an ongoing measles outbreak after officials counted 108 confirmed cases this year.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Oct. 5 announcement says the emergency order expands the pool of health professionals who may administer measles vaccines and gives nurses additional authority to order testing.
What the emergency order changes
Executive Order No. 65 took effect Oct. 5 and is scheduled to remain in effect through Nov. 4, 2026. It applies across New York State.
- Paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians, pharmacists and midwives may administer measles vaccines under the expanded response.
- Nurses receive added flexibility to order measles testing.
- The state can move more quickly to support local health departments with vaccination, laboratory testing and outbreak investigation.
State officials said seven of the 108 confirmed 2026 cases were in New York City and 101 were elsewhere in the state as of Oct. 3. Ninety-two cases have been reported since July 15 among under-immunized rural communities in 18 counties.
What health officials are advising
The New York State Department of Health is urging residents to check whether they are current on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one MMR dose is about 93% effective against measles and two doses are about 97% effective.
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms commonly include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes; a rash often appears several days later.
People who think they may have measles or have been exposed should call a healthcare provider before arriving at a clinic so staff can take infection-control precautions. This report is informational and is not a substitute for medical advice.
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Featured image: Photo by CDC on Unsplash. Image is illustrative and shows vaccination care, not a measles patient.