Lewis County Measles Cluster Concentrates in Lowville as State Declares Emergency
All 11 confirmed measles cases in Lewis County, New York, are located in the town of Lowville, according to the county public health department. The affected individuals, including both children and adults, are unvaccinated and do not attend public schools. On October 5, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency to address the rising number of measles cases across rural New York, aiming to accelerate case identification and vaccine distribution. Statewide, confirmed cases have reached 101, more than double the 48 recorded last year. Health officials emphasize that the vaccine is 97% effective and urge unvaccinated individuals to seek immunization, noting that the general public risk remains low due to high vaccination rates.
