SCHUMER: AFTER SECOND CASE OF MEASLES IN ERIE COUNTY THIS MONTH – THE FIRST CASES SINCE 2018 – TRUMP ADMIN AND SECRETARY KENNEDY ARE PUTTING WESTERN NEW YORK KIDS IN DANGER[...]

Two Erie County Residents Have Tested Positive For Measles This Month After No Cases For Eight Years And County Officials Worry There Are More Unreported Cases - As Nationwide Cases Exceed 2,000 For Second Year In A Row

As Secretary Kennedy Puts Upstate New Yorkers' Public Health At Risk By Unraveling Public Health Infrastructure And Promoting Anti-Vax Conspiracies, Vaccination Rates Plunge Below CDC Herd Immunity Threshold; Schumer Calls On Trump Admin To Boost Resources For Measles Monitoring And Vaccine Programs To Keep WNY Kids Safe

Schumer: The Longer RFK Jr. Fails To Stop More Measles Cases, The More WNYers Are Put At Risk - Especially Kids

As Erie County faces two cases of measles this month, the first cases in eight years, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood with public health officials, concerned parents, and doctors and demanded that the Trump administration take immediate action to address measles outbreaks across the country. Schumer will explain that under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s leadership, the Trump administration has facilitated the rapid growth of measles cases after it gutted funding for vaccine awareness and public health, destabilized HHS's infectious disease workforce, and continues to sow doubt about the safety of the measles vaccine. For the second year in a row, there have been more than 2,000 cases of measles nationwide, which is why Schumer demanded that Secretary Kennedy bring back CDC experts fired by 'DOGE,' restore measles-related grants, and boost funding for public health programs to keep Western New York kids safe from measles.

"The Trump administration has taken a wrecking ball to programs that keep New Yorkers safe from measles, and Erie County is paying the price. For eight years, Erie County has been measles-free, but just this month we've already seen two cases, with experts fearing more to come," said Senator Schumer. "That's because under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, the Trump administration has walked our country into the nation's largest surge of measles outbreaks in 33 years. Firing vaccine experts, gutting public health funding, and undermining vaccines isn't reform. It's reckless, radical, and rooted in conspiracy, not science. Today, I am here to launch a three-pronged push to get the Trump administration to bring back CDC experts, restore measles-related grants, and boost federal funding for public health programs so we can prevent more cases before the disease spreads."

Schumer explained earlier this month that the first Erie County resident in eight years tested positive for measles in a case connected to international travel. A week later, a second Erie County resident who had not reported travel out of the county tested positive for measles in an unrelated case. Because of the second case, Erie County's Health Commissioner raised concerns that there are probably more unreported cases. This brings the total number of measles cases in New York state to 13 after a sky-high 48 cases last year. Nationwide measles cases have surpassed 2,000 for the second year in a row, more than any other year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000. Across the country, doctors have seen more cases of serious illnesses that vaccines have long helped prevent, including measles, due to declining vaccination rates.

Schumer said that under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, the Trump administration has failed to slow the growth in measles cases. The senator last summer called on the Trump administration to take the rising number of measles cases seriously, and since then, it has only gotten worse. The Trump administration fired one-third of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s workforce, including leaders in measles response, as part of 'DOGE's broader mass federal firings. Secretary Kennedy oversaw the cancellation of grants to combat vaccine hesitancy and billions of dollars in grants to help state and local public health departments prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Despite having his own family vaccinated for measles, Secretary Kennedy has also stoked fears about the vaccine, leading to vaccination rates plunging far below the herd immunity threshold, putting New Yorkers at risk every single day.

Schumer said, amid this major surge in measles cases, the Trump administration must take immediate action to protect Western New Yorkers - especially kids. Schumer today launched his three-pronged push to fight the measles crisis, which includes:

• Re-hiring CDC experts: The Trump administration and 'DOGE' fired one-third of CDC's workforce, including leaders in measles response and members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), who are vital to curbing the measles outbreak.
• Restoring and supporting measles-related grants: Restore all 40 grants focused on combatting vaccine hesitancy and the $11.4 billion in pandemic response funds utilized by state and local public health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
• Supporting funding and staff for public health programs: Support full staffing and continued funding for programs like the Wastewater Monitoring Program, including through the renewal of a CDC lab contract, which supports 200 measles testing sites across the country, including two in Upstate New York.

Schumer called on Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration to take immediate action to keep our communities safe from rising cases of measles. Schumer's letter to Secretary Kennedy can be found HERE.

"Measles was all but eliminated in the United States more than two decades ago," Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said. "It is unacceptable that, in 2026, Buffalo and communities across the country are once again facing outbreaks as public health infrastructure is weakened and confidence in vaccines is undermined. I join Senator Schumer in calling on the federal government to restore support for local health departments and provide the resources communities need to keep residents safe."

"The fact that measles is back should serve as a wake up call to everyone to check their own immune status and be aware of those around us with compromised immune systems. This is a highly transmissible virus but we can all take steps to limit that transmission and protect ourselves," said Deputy Erie County Executive Lisa M. Chimera. "I thank Senator Schumer for focusing on stopping measles' spread also the Erie County Department of Health for the work they are doing to stop it as well."

"Measles is a dangerously contagious virus that represents a looming public health threat. As other parts of the country have experienced intense measles outbreaks in unvaccinated populations, we have been preparing in Erie County," said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. "These two confirmed cases - the first since 2018 in our county - are a powerful warning that highlight our main concern: for the health of people who are not fully vaccinated against measles, or who do not have immunity. This is the time for Western New York residents to know their measles immunity status, take steps to get an MMR vaccine if indicated, and be aware of the most vulnerable people in your lives - unvaccinated infants and children, and people who are seriously immunocompromised. As media and social media are flooded with messages that undermine the credibility of vaccines and public health, we are fighting the germs and we are fighting a misinformation machine, too. We are fortunate to have a medical community in Erie County that supports science, evidence and the credible body of knowledge around immunizations."

At Jericho Road, we are committed to the health and safety of every patient and family we serve in Erie County. We are fortunate to have a safe, highly effective way to protect against measles - the MMR vaccine. We are actively working with our care teams and public health partners to ensure our patients are protected. We encourage everyone in our community who is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status to speak with their primary care team. Vaccination is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep our community healthy, and together, we can prevent the spread of this disease. We are grateful to Senator Schumer for shining a light on the importance of vaccinations, and for his leadership in advocating for critical measles-related grants and funding that strengthen vaccination programs and expand access to care. His continued commitment to investing in public health resources is essential to protecting the well-being of New Yorkers," said Jericho Road Health Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allana Krolikowski.

"Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease, and vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles. While Western New York has a relatively high vaccination rate against measles, there are certain groups of vulnerable individuals - including those who are too young to be vaccinated or those who are immunocompromised - who are more susceptible to contracting measles and experiencing more serious symptoms and long-term effects. The more people throughout the region who are vaccinated, the more likely we are to protect these vulnerable populations," said Dr. Mark Hicar, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

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