FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — Update: Aug. 21 at 11 p.m.
Kentucky health officials are reporting 24 confirmed measles cases across seven counties, including Jessamine, Christian, Owen, Todd, Trigg, and Washington counties, as an ongoing outbreak continues to grow.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says this is the most measles cases the state has seen since 1991. Officials say the outbreak began when a group from Christian County traveled out of state and was exposed to the virus.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack says none of the infected people had received the measles vaccine.
"If a person who is vaccinated with 2 doses of vaccine is surrounded in a room full of people who are actively contagious with the measles, almost certainly they will not become infected. On the other hand, if a person who is unimmunized sits next to a person with measles, they are almost certainly going to become infected with measles," Stack said.
Stack says hundreds of people in the affected counties have already rushed to get vaccinated since the outbreak began.
The state's measles cases come as Kentucky's kindergartners continue to have a vaccination rate against measles that is lower than the national average. More than 2,500 cases have been confirmed across the U.S. since Aug. 13.
Measles can cause serious complications in both young and old populations, though symptoms do not appear until eight to 12 days after exposure. The first vaccination is administered to children between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the second dose is given to children ages 4 to 6.
"This is the largest measles outbreak Kentucky has experienced in many years," Stack said. "Measles is almost entirely preventable for those who have had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and we urge all parents and caregivers to make sure their children are immunized, so they are protected against this serious, sometimes life-threatening illness."
Anyone with questions about vaccinations can contact their local health department or doctor.
Original story:
State health officials have confirmed that Kentucky is experiencing the highest number of measles cases amid an ongoing outbreak of the viral respiratory illness.
According to a release, the state is experiencing more confirmed cases of measles in 2026 than any year since 1991. 15 cases have been confirmed in the last four days in Christian, Owen, Todd, Trigg, and Washington Counties.
News
Kentucky confirms ongoing Measles outbreak; cases reported in 4 counties
“This is the largest measles outbreak Kentucky has experienced in many years,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack in a release. “Measles is almost entirely preventable for those who have had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and we urge all parents and caregivers to make sure their children are immunized, so they are protected against this serious, sometimes life-threatening illness.”
Measles can cause serious complications to both young and old populations, although symptoms do not present until eight to 12 days after exposure.
The first vaccination against the disease is administered to children between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the second dose is given to those 4 to 6 years of age. It is typically given alongside the MMR vaccination.
National News
US kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit record high as immunization rates slip
The outbreak comes as Kentucky's kindergartners continue to have a vaccination rate against measles that is lower than the national average. Over 2,500 cases have been confirmed across the US since August 13.
