Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency over measles on Monday, Oct. 5 — and Lewis County is one of the counties at the center of it. The county now has 11 confirmed cases, all of them in the town of Lowville, according to Lewis County public health director Ashley Waite.
Before anyone worries: this is not a lockdown, and it doesn’t change daily life for vaccinated people. The order is about getting more shots into arms faster in the rural counties where the virus is spreading. Here’s what actually changed, and what to do about it.
What’s happening in Lewis County
The county’s first case was confirmed Sept. 26 in an unvaccinated resident — the first measles case recorded in Lewis County since the state began publishing county-level data in 1994. Ten more cases were announced Oct. 2, all unvaccinated and linked to the first case. Everyone still in their infectious period is isolating.
Waite told WWNY that all 11 cases are in the town of Lowville, and that those affected include both children and adults, some of them related to each other. None of the children attend public schools. Contact tracing is complete — the county says it has directly reached everyone known to have been exposed.
Statewide, New York has recorded 108 measles cases in 2026 through Oct. 3, with 92 of them since mid-July across 18 mostly rural counties. According to state data, there are no confirmed cases in Jefferson or St. Lawrence counties.
The county’s own assessment: “The overall risk to the public remains low, particularly in those that are fully vaccinated or who were born before 1957,” when natural immunity is generally presumed. Waite put it plainly: “There’s little risk to the general public. The majority of our population is vaccinated.”
What the emergency order actually does
Executive Order 65, in effect Oct. 5 through Nov. 4, temporarily widens the pool of people allowed to give the MMR vaccine in New York:
- Paramedics and advanced EMS providers can administer MMR shots
- Pharmacists can vaccinate children ages 2 and older
- Midwives can vaccinate under medical supervision
- Registered nurses can order measles testing (throat/nasal swabs, urine, and blood tests)
Two things the order does not do: it does not allow anyone to be vaccinated without consent — patient or guardian consent is still required — and it imposes no restrictions, closures, or lockdowns on the public. What it does require is reporting: every MMR dose given must be reported to the state or city immunization registry within 72 hours.
The practical effect for Lewis County is access. More kinds of health workers giving shots means a closer, faster option than waiting on a pediatrician or county clinic appointment — which is exactly what Waite said the county needs: the declaration “opens up more resources” and helps health officials identify cases faster and get more vaccines out.
What you should do
Check your vaccination status. You’re generally considered protected if you have records of two MMR doses, were born before 1957, or have a blood test confirming immunity. If you’re unsure, your primary care provider or Lewis County Public Health can help track down your records — or give you the shot.
If you were exposed and aren’t vaccinated, act fast. The MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure — or immune globulin within 6 days — can prevent measles or make it much milder. Call your health care provider or Lewis County Public Health right away.
Know the symptoms and watch for 21 days after a possible exposure. Measles usually starts 7 to 14 days after exposure with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed 3 to 5 days later by a blotchy red rash starting at the hairline. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
Call before you go in. If you develop symptoms or suspect exposure, do not walk into a clinic, urgent care, or ER unannounced — call your provider or the emergency room first so they can isolate you on arrival and protect other patients.
For questions about measles or vaccination, contact Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.