Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on Monday over a measles outbreak, the first such declaration by a U.S. state since the surge began in 2025. The order targets the growing number of cases across the state.

New York has reported 108 measles cases this year through Oct. 3, including 92 since July 15 in under‑immunized rural communities across 18 counties. Seven cases are in New York City and 101 are elsewhere, the governor’s office said.

Local health departments have administered more than 1,000 MMR doses in rural areas since July 15. The emergency order also lets registered nurses order tests for suspected measles and permits pharmacists to vaccinate children as young as two. It requires all MMR vaccinations to be reported to state or New York City immunization registries within 72 hours, while waiving adults’ consent for such reporting.

The emergency runs through Nov. 4, giving officials a limited window to expand vaccination access and speed up reporting. By widening who can vaccinate and tightening data collection, the state hopes to curb the outbreak before it spreads further.