New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a “state of emergency” in response to over 100 reported cases of measles in the state.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania continues to see a significant rise in measles cases, with more than 1,000 infections reported as of Monday. In light of this, Hochul signed an executive order calling for enhanced monitoring and vaccination initiatives. As of Saturday, New York had documented 108 measles cases.
In a statement shared on her government website, Hochul emphasized, “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. 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.”
The executive order highlighted that vaccination is crucial for preventing the disease, with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine being the only effective means of doing so.
To bolster vaccination rates, Hochul has broadened the range of authorized personnel who can administer the vaccine to include “paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists, and midwives,” and she also allows nurses to order testing, in addition to physicians.
Since mid-July, New York health departments have administered over 1,000 doses of the MMR vaccine in rural areas. They’ve also launched a “Measles Dashboard” to provide ongoing updates regarding the outbreak.
Dr. James McDonald, the New York State Department of Health Commissioner, expressed gratitude for Governor Hochul’s prompt actions to tackle the rising measles cases. “Department staff are working closely with local health departments and regional partners to track and contain the current measles outbreak,” he remarked on Hochul’s website. He further urged New Yorkers to verify their vaccination status to ensure protection for themselves and their families.
Hochul’s executive order enables the state to react more rapidly to the outbreak and allows healthcare providers to implement further measures aimed at increasing vaccination and testing among New Yorkers as necessary, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
