New York Measles Outbreak Triggers 'Disaster' Emergency as Sixth Death Reported
New York State declared a ‘disaster’ emergency on October 13 due to the continuing spread of a measles outbreak, which has now caused a sixth death. Health officials warned that persistently low vaccination coverage in some communities — below the herd immunity threshold — is the main driver of the outbreak, and the state government will launch emergency measures including mandatory vaccination and community screening.