New York State Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order on Monday declaring a "State Disaster Emergency" over a rise in measles cases across the state – the first such declaration by a US state since infections began surging in 2025.

According to the order, 108 cases of measles have been reported among New York State residents this year through Saturday. Of those, 92 were reported since July 15, largely in under-immunized, rural communities in 18 counties. New York City has reported seven cases.

The outbreak comes as measles cases rise across rural areas of New York and neighboring states. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced on Monday that 1,004 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania in 2026, with five confirmed measles-associated deaths.

The order lets more healthcare professionals administer measles vaccines. The state has also launched a "Measles Dashboard" to help the public and health officials track local risks.

The emergency took effect on Monday and runs through November 4, according to a release by the New York State government.

The US had reported 3,887 confirmed measles cases as of October 1, 2026. Of those, 3,869 were reported by 47 jurisdictions, while 18 were reported among international visitors, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as the best protection against measles.

Vaccination coverage among US kindergartners has declined in recent years, falling to 92.4% in the 2025-2026 school year, below the 95% target, with some communities lower still, the CDC said.