No. 65.1: Declaring a Disaster Emergency in the State of New York Due to an Ongoing Measles Outbreak

No. 65.1

E XE C U T I V EO R D E R

EXTENDING THE DISASTER EMERGENCY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK DUE TO AN ONGOING MEASLES OUTBREAK

WHEREAS, measles is a highly contagious virus that typically causes high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and rash; spreads through the air when a person with measles breathes or coughs; and infects approximately 90% of non-immune individuals who are exposed to the virus;

WHEREAS, complications of measles are frequent, including pneumonia in approximately 1 out of 20 infected children, encephalitis that can lead to permanent brain damage in approximately 1 out of 1,000 people with measles, death in approximately 1 to 3 out of 1,000 children with measles, and longer term complications, including immune amnesia causing loss of immunity to other diseases to which the person was previously immune and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis leading to central nervous system deterioration and death several years after measles infection;

WHEREAS, measles can be prevented with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and the MMR vaccine is the only reliable way to prevent measles;

WHEREAS, the number of measles cases reported this year has markedly increased beyond the typical number of measles cases reported in New York State, particularly since July 15, and therefore constitutes an issue of significant public health concern;

WHEREAS, on October 5, 2026, I issued Executive Order 65 declaring a State Disaster Emergency due to this ongoing measles outbreak; and

WHEREAS, there continue to be newly reported measles cases in New York State that threaten public health and safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find a continued need for a statewide disaster emergency order and do hereby extend the State Disaster Emergency as set forth in Executive Order 65. This executive order shall be in effect through December 4, 2026.

FURTHER, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-A of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby continue the terms, conditions, and suspensions contained in Executive Order 65, and in addition, do hereby temporarily suspend or modify the following laws, for the period from the date of this executive order through December 4, 2026:

• Sections 6502, 6502-a, 6509, 6524, 6530, 6905, 6906 and 6910 of the Education Law and Part 59.8 of Title 8 of the NYCRR to the extent necessary to authorize retired physicians, registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse practitioners licensed to practice and in current good standing in New York State, but not currently registered in New York State, to participate in State- or local health department-directed measles immunization activities without civil or criminal penalty related to lack of registration.

G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the
City of Albany this fourth day of November in the year two thousand twenty-six.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor