By: Aarav Sapra
Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide emergency as measles spreads through rural parts of the state, part of a national outbreak that has made 2026 one of the worst years for disease since 2020. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Furthermore, the virus can linger in a room for up to two hours, and about 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people can get sick. Symptoms may include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that spreads to the rest of the body. Unfortunately, there is no cure, and symptoms can only be treated short-term.
Recently, New York has had 108 cases as of October 3, which was the highest count since 2019. Statistics show that seven were in New York, and the remaining 101 were distributed across the state, mostly near the Finger Lakes region. As a result, Governor Hochul has decided to expand who can give the vaccine. Specifically, paramedics, advanced EMS providers, pharmacists, and midwives can now administer it, and nurses can order testing. However, the outbreak extends beyond New York. Pennsylvania, for example, has reported 1,004 cases, the largest single-state outbreak since a multiyear outbreak in New York in the early 1990s.
Currently, the best way to defend against Measles is vaccination. Right now, the MMR vaccine is about 97 percent effective after two doses. The CDC recommends the first dose at 12 to 15 months and the second between ages 4 and 6. Large studies have found no link between the vaccine and autism. For measles, protecting a whole community, known as herd immunity, takes about 95 percent vaccination. When rates drop below that, the virus can spread among unprotected people.
The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, but the current outbreaks show how quickly that progress can slip. Students can check with a doctor or school nurse to make sure their MMR shots are up to date.