State Health Commissioner warns measles has gained ‘solid foothold’ in New York

ALBANY, NY (WNYT) – New York has declared a state disaster emergency as measles cases continue to rise, with the state’s health commissioner warning the virus has gained a “solid foothold” over the past two months.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Jim McDonald said New York has reached 110 measles cases, more than twice the number reported last year. Cases are being seen primarily in rural areas of the Capital, Central and Western regions, with several cases also confirmed in New York City.

McDonald said the increase is part of a broader national surge. The United States has reported thousands of measles cases this year, a sharp departure from the previous 25 years, when the country averaged about 100 cases annually.

The current outbreak is also notable because of the number of adults being infected. McDonald said more than two-thirds of New York’s measles cases involve adults.

He urged people between the ages of 18 and 69 to make sure they have received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.

Governor Kathy Hochul declared the state disaster emergency to give health officials additional tools to respond to the outbreak.

The executive order broadens access to MMR vaccinations by allowing more types of health care professionals to administer the vaccine. It also gives nurses greater authority to order measles testing, which officials say can help identify cases more quickly.

McDonald said local health departments have administered more than 1,200 MMR vaccines over the past two months. He said many of the people being reached are not necessarily vaccine hesitant, but instead may be unaware of whether they are fully protected.

The order also gives the state better information about who is immunized, allowing health officials to identify communities that may be at greater risk.

Hochul said the disaster declaration is intended to strengthen the state’s efforts to confront measles and prevent serious illness or death from a vaccine-preventable disease. The emergency declaration is in effect through Nov. 4.

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