Kentucky's Measles Cases Cause Concern

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians and public health officials about a confirmed measles case in Kentucky (KY).

On February 24, 2023, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) identified a confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated Jessamine County, Kentucky resident.

While infectious, the resident, with a history of recent international travel, attended Asbury University's services in Hughes Auditorium in Wilmore, KY, on February 18, 2023.

An estimated 20,000 people attended the gathering from Kentucky, other U.S. states, and other countries.

“Anyone who attended the revival on Feb. 18 may have been exposed to measles,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the KDPH, in a related press statement.

“Attendees who are unvaccinated are encouraged to quarantine for 21 days and to seek immunization with the measles vaccine, which is safe and effective.”

A second measles case in Kentucky was reported in January 2023 in Powell County.

Previously, Kentucky confirmed a measles case in December 2022 within Christian County that was associated with Ohio's measles outbreak that impacted about 85 children.

And the Jefferson County Public Schools announced in January it would conduct vaccination clinics for about 10,000 unvaccinated students in the Louisville area.

As of February 28, 2023, the CDC reported three measles cases in 2023 and 121 measles cases in six U.S. jurisdictions during 2022. 

Measles is a vaccine-preventable, acute viral illness that begins with a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting 2–4 days before rash onset. 

In the U.S., various measles vaccines are available at health clinics and local pharmacies. For example, the M-M-R® II Vaccine is licensed throughout the U.S.

Other measles outbreak news is available at Vax-Before-Travel.