New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is turning to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for federal assistance as a measles outbreak spreads across rural communities, forcing an unusual partnership between a Democratic governor and a Trump administration official who has drawn criticism over his vaccine positions.
Hochul plans to submit a detailed request for federal assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after speaking with Kennedy this week.
The request comes after New York declared a statewide disaster emergency on Oct. 5 as cases climbed across the state. New York had reported 108 measles cases through Oct. 3, including 92 since July 15 across 18 counties, according to the governor's office.
Seven cases were reported in New York City, while the remaining 101 were elsewhere in the state, with rural communities experiencing the bulk of the recent spread.
The emergency declaration gives health officials additional flexibility to respond to the outbreak, including expanding the pool of healthcare professionals authorized to administer measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, expediting laboratory testing and increasing support for local health departments conducting contact tracing.
More than 1,000 MMR vaccine doses have been administered in rural areas since July 15.
Hochul's decision to seek federal help comes with political complications.
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has questioned measles-related deaths reported by states and drawn criticism from public health officials over his approach to immunization policy.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, has clashed publicly with Kennedy over the federal government's handling of measles-related deaths. Pennsylvania is also battling a significantly larger outbreak, with more than 1,000 cases and five deaths reported as of early October.
The dispute has made CDC assistance politically sensitive even as states confront the spread of a highly contagious disease.
Kennedy offered support after Hochul contacted him Tuesday. He subsequently connected the governor with CDC Director Erica Schwartz, who recommended the MMR vaccine during a health conference in Washington.
The New York State Department of Health continues to urge residents to ensure their vaccinations are current. The department's measles information page warns that the disease can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
The outbreak also comes amid a broader national measles resurgence. The United States is experiencing its worst year for the disease since 1991, with nearly 3,900 cases reported nationally.
Her planned request will test whether state and federal officials can put those disagreements aside as New York works to contain the outbreak.
