Hochul Declares Measles Emergency as New York Cases Rise

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency as measles cases rose across the state, with 51 confirmed statewide by September 12, 2026, according to figures cited in the report. The declaration is intended to allow health professionals to take additional steps to increase vaccination and testing, though the order’s specific scope and authorities were not provided. New York City had recorded seven confirmed cases by September 25, according to the city Health Department. Those figures have different reporting cutoffs and should not be read as a same-date breakdown of the statewide total. New York recorded 48 cases during all of 2025: 20 in the city and 28 elsewhere in the state, according to state health department figures. The emergency declaration was reported on Monday, October 5. It is separate from Executive Order No. 63, which took effect September 25 and declared an emergency in response to a forecast nor’easter and storm-related risks. That order covered several counties and contiguous counties; it was not identified as the basis for the measles response.