Vaccination coverage among US kindergartners has declined in recent years, falling to 92.4% in the 2025-26 school year, below the 95% target. (EPA Images pic)

NEW YORK: New York State on Monday declared a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak, the first such declaration by a US state since cases began surging in 2025, reported Xinhua.

New York State governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order declaring a "State Disaster Emergency" in response to an increase in measles cases across the state.

According to the executive order, 108 cases of measles have been reported among New York State residents this year through Saturday. Of those, 92 were reported since July 15, largely in under-immunised, rural communities in 18 counties.