UPDATE: June 30 at 3:30 p.m.
A measles outbreak detected in Woodford County last week has now spread into Fayette County, Kentucky health officials announced on Monday.
According to a press release, there are currently five confirmed active cases of measles in Kentucky: four detected from the same outbreak in Woodford and Fayette counties, and an unrelated case in Todd County.
The news comes as the country experiences the largest measles outbreak since the contagious respiratory virus was declared eliminated in 2000. Nationally, over 1,200 cases have been reported.
“When there are measles outbreaks in other states and nearby countries, it is not surprising to see spread to Kentucky,” said Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack. “Measles can be very serious, but it is avoidable through vaccination. We urge all parents to have their children vaccinated to ensure they are protected from preventable diseases like measles.”
Kentucky's first case of 2025 was seen in an adult in February. To date, seven cases have been reported in the state this year.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Kentucky health officials have reported four new cases of measles in the Commonwealth this week, bringing the total to six cases this year, according to a release from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Three of the new cases are from the same household in Woodford County, and the fourth case is in Todd County. The Todd County case involves someone who was exposed to measles while traveling internationally and is unrelated to the other three cases, the release states.
None of the four individuals were vaccinated against measles.
Health officials are now working to identify others who may have been exposed to those infected while they were contagious.
