Unvaccinated children have been banned from public spaces in Rockland County, on the Hudson river, north of the New York City, following the outbreak. Those who violate the order could face up to six months in prison and a fine of $500 (£378). Rockland County Executive Ed Day warned the country was facing a public health crisis.
He said: “We will not sit idly by while children in our community are at risk.
“This is a public health crisis and it is time to sound the alarm.”
There have been other recent outbreaks of the highly-infectious disease, which can cause lung or brain damage.
Some of the other US states include Washington, Texas, Illinois and California.
Many parents have been put off vaccinating their children, as they believe discredited information that vaccines cause autism.
The World Health Organisation has declared the anti-vaccine movement to be one of the biggest health threats for 2019.
Last year, there were more than 82,500 cases confirmed in Europe, which was the highest number in a decade.
The British government is now seeking new legislation to stop social media companies promoting false information about vaccines.
Nearly half of the 314 measles cases currently being reported in the US are coming from Rockland County, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dylan Skriloff, the editor of local newspaper the Rockland County Times, warned the number of measles cases in the county keeps rising.
He said to the BBC: “The first reports came six months ago, and each week we’ve had a new report with increased numbers.
“It’s become clear that it’s not abating, and the authorities… don’t want to accept [this reality] as the new normal.
“The rate of immunisation in the religious communities, for young people, it’s about 50 to 60, which is not nearly enough.”
The order in New York will last for 30 days and bans anyone under the age of 18 who has not been vaccinated from going to schools, shopping centres and places of worship.
The order adds authorities will “not be patrolling or asking for vaccination records”.
Instead, they will just refer people to the District Attorney’s Office if they are found to be violating the order.