New York declares emergency over measles

Measles^*1 is spreading in New York, a state in the eastern United States. On October 5, Kathy Hochul, the governor^*2 of New York, signed an executive order^*3. The order declares a disaster emergency^*4 for the whole state.

By October 3, there were 108 confirmed cases^*5 of measles in the state. Seven of them were in New York City, and 101 were in other parts of the state. Since July 15, there have been 92 cases in 18 counties^*6. These counties are rural^*7 areas where many people have not had all their vaccines^*8.

The order lets more people give vaccines. Now paramedics^*9, advanced emergency medical workers, pharmacists^*10, and midwives^*11 can give the shots. Nurses can also order tests for measles.

Local health departments have already given more than 1,000 doses^*12 of the MMR vaccine^*13. This vaccine protects against measles. When a person gets two doses, it stops the disease 97 percent of the time.

Governor Hochul said that no one should become very sick or die from a disease that a vaccine can prevent.

1. *1 Measles: A sickness that spreads easily from person to person. It gives you a fever and red spots on your skin.
2. *2 governor: The leader of a state in the United States.
3. *3 executive order: A rule that a leader of a government can make by himself or herself, without a vote.
4. *4 disaster emergency: A very serious situation. The government declares it so it can act fast and use special powers.
5. *5 confirmed cases: People who doctors have tested and know for sure have the sickness.
6. *6 counties: Parts of a state. A state is divided into counties, and each one has its own local government.
7. *7 rural: In the countryside, far from big cities.
8. *8 vaccines: Medicine, usually given as a shot, that helps the body fight a sickness before you get it.
9. *9 paramedics: Workers who come in an ambulance and give medical help in an emergency.
10. *10 pharmacists: People who prepare and sell medicine in a drugstore.
11. *11 midwives: People who help women when they have a baby.
12. *12 doses: One dose is one amount of medicine given at one time.
13. *13 MMR vaccine: A vaccine that protects against three sicknesses: measles, mumps, and rubella.