Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency on Monday after a surge in measles cases across rural New York and nearby states.
Hochul issued the executive order to allow the state to respond swiftly to the measles outbreak and allow healthcare professionals to vaccinate more New Yorkers against the highly contagious disease.
As of Saturday, there have been seven confirmed cases in New York City and 101 cases in the rest of the Empire State this year.
Since mid-July, a whopping 92 cases have broken out in under-immunized rural communities across 18 counties.
“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. That is why I have taken steps to increase the number of health professionals who can vaccinate and test. These emergency measures will protect New Yorkers and support our community partners as they work tirelessly to address the spread of this disease.”
