Hochul Declares Disaster Emergency Over Measles Outbreak
By Sandra Rhodes (/journals/sandra-rhodes)
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is battling the state’s outbreak of measles cases by declaring the first statewide disaster emergency.
The governor announced the move Monday in an effort to stymie the disease that has sickened more than 100 people.
New York has reported 108 measles cases as of Oct. 3, according to state officials. Most of the cases are outside New York City. Seven cases are in the city.
According to state officials, 92 cases have been reported since July 15 in rural communities across 18 counties. These are areas 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 will remain in effect through Nov. 4. It gives health officials broader authority to respond to the outbreak, including increasing the number 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 who can now administer vaccines.
Neighboring Pennsylvania is facing an even bigger outbreak as cases went over 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. This includes 198 hospitalizations and five deaths.
A third of those cases occurred in individuals under 18-years-old.
Close to 3,900 cases have been reported nationwide, the highest annual total since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.