New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency on October 5, 2026, as measles cases rose in neighboring states and rural parts of New York. The order reportedly broadens who may administer measles vaccines and allows nurses, as well as doctors, to order tests. Separately, the CDC counted 3,887 confirmed U.S. cases through October 1—a fast-moving year-to-date total, not a final count for 2026.
Why did New York declare a measles disaster emergency?
The emergency declaration responds to measles cases in neighboring states and rural areas of New York, according to the Associated Press. The reported measures are intended to expand access to vaccination and testing during the increase in cases.
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The available account does not establish the order’s exact legal scope, geographic boundaries, order number, or expiration date. The details below describe what AP reported, rather than provisions independently confirmed from the executive-order text.
What does the emergency order reportedly change?
AP reports two changes: a wider group of people may administer measles vaccines, including paramedics and midwives, and nurses may join doctors in ordering tests. The account does not specify all newly eligible professions, the settings where these changes apply, or any operational conditions. Readers seeking to know whether a particular provider or service is covered should check with New York State or a local health department.
How many measles cases are in the United States in 2026?
The CDC reported 3,887 confirmed U.S. measles cases as of October 1, 2026. Its weekly surveillance page counts confirmed cases reported to the agency by Thursday at noon; states may report on different schedules, so the national total can lag behind local updates. The figure is therefore a dated snapshot, not a final 2026 tally. CDC measles data and surveillance.
For context, the CDC’s 2026 update lists 2,289 confirmed cases for the full 2025 calendar year. These figures show the scale of the current increase, but the 2026 number covers only cases counted through October 1. CDC measles data and surveillance.
Is this the highest U.S. measles count in 35 years?
The Associated Press characterized 2026 as the worst U.S. measles year since 1991, citing CDC data. That supports the “35-year high” description as a contemporaneous comparison based on the count available at the time; it is not a completed-year ranking. Because the 2026 total is still subject to updates, the comparison may change as the year and reporting continue. Associated Press report on New York’s emergency declaration.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHistorical comparisons need the same care. As of October 1, 2019, the CDC had counted 1,249 U.S. cases that year—the highest number reported by that point in a year since 1992. That was an interim snapshot. The CDC now lists 1,274 cases for the full 2019 calendar year, so the 2026 October 1 count should not be presented as a direct comparison with a completed historical-year total. CDC’s 2019 report on measles outbreaks.
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What happened in New York during the 2019 measles outbreaks?
New York City and the rest of New York State were central to the 2019 national outbreak picture. Through October 1 of that year, 934 cases—75% of the 1,249 U.S. cases reported by then—were associated with outbreaks in the city and state. The CDC’s report says the sustained outbreaks lasted nearly a year and threatened the United States’ measles-elimination status, but ended before reaching the one-year threshold. CDC’s 2019 report on measles outbreaks.
In that October 1, 2019 snapshot, 89% of patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, and 10% were hospitalized. The CDC linked the prolonged New York outbreaks to low-vaccination-coverage pockets, variable vaccine acceptance, population density and close social networks, and repeated introductions of measles by unvaccinated travelers. Those are findings about the 2018–2019 outbreaks; they do not establish the causes of the 2026 cases. CDC’s 2019 report on measles outbreaks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What helps prevent measles outbreaks?
The CDC identifies high MMR vaccination coverage across communities and rapid outbreak control as central to preventing wider transmission. Its 2019 report stated: “Ensuring high rates of measles immunization in all communities is critical to sustaining measles elimination.” The report also described vaccination efforts, tailored communications, community partnerships, and local public-health authority in the response to the 2018–2019 outbreaks. CDC’s 2019 report on measles outbreaks.
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