New York state declares measles disaster amid resurgence of disease in US

What the report says

New York state has declared a disaster emergency in response to a measles outbreak, as the United States faces a broader resurgence of a disease that was largely eliminated domestically by 2000. Al Jazeera reported that Governor Kathy Hochul announced the measure on Monday, saying it would temporarily expand the authority of health professionals to give MMR vaccines. The declaration is set to last through November 4.

According to the report, New York had recorded 108 measles cases this year as of October 3, including seven in New York City and 101 elsewhere in the state. Hochul’s emergency order said 92 of those cases were identified since July 15 in several rural communities where vaccination rates are considered too low to block spread.

The story places the New York outbreak in the context of a wider national increase in measles cases. Pennsylvania has also reported more than 1,000 cases this year, described as the largest U.S. outbreak in three decades, while outbreaks have also been reported in Texas, Utah, Ohio and South Carolina. Public health officials say measles can spread when vaccination coverage falls below the level needed to prevent transmission, and the report notes that vaccine skepticism has been a factor in the decline.

The Pan American Health Organization is due to review the measles-free status of the U.S. and Mexico in November, a decision that could affect regional public health designations.