Gov. Kathy Hochul declares disaster emergency for NYS over measles spike | 5 Oct 2026 | A steady increase in measles cases, especially in rural areas, prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday to declare a state disaster emergency. There have been 108 cases so far this year in New York State, compared with 48 for all of 2025. The emergency declaration allows paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists and midwives to administer the measles vaccine. It also gives nurses the ability to order testing, according to the announcement.