Kentucky Health Officials Announce Measles Outbreak

Andy Beshear GOVERNOR CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES 275 East Main Street, 5W-A Frankfort, Kentucky 40621 Phone: (502) 564-7042 Fax: (502) 564-7091 Steven Stack, MD SECRETARY @chfsky | CHFS.KY.GOV An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D Statewide News Release Media Contact: Kendra Steele                      502.352.3586                                         kendra.steele@ky.gov             Beth Fisher          502.229.6529                                  beth.fisher@ky.gov Health Officials Announce Measles Outbreak in Central Kentucky FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 30, 2025) –Today, Kentucky health officials announced that a measles outbreak that started in Woodford County has spread to Fayette County. Health officials are working to identify people who may have been exposed. There are currently five measles cases in Kentucky, four of which are connected to the same outbreak. One of the cases, located in Todd County, appears to be unrelated to the Woodford County and Fayette County cases. Updated information about measles cases in Kentucky can be found on the Kentucky Department for Public Health measles website. These cases occur in the midst of global outbreaks of measles, including in Mexico and Canada, and the largest outbreak of measles in the United States since measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 1,200 cases this year in 2025, including several large outbreaks in other states. “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.” Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children. Measles is spread through the air and can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours. Early symptoms of measles begin 8 to12 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes. The characteristic measles rash typically appears three to five days after symptoms begin, usually on the face before spreading down to the rest of the body.

The first dose of measles vaccine is routinely administered in combination with mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) to children at age 12 months through 15 months, and a second dose at age 4 through 6. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 97% effective against measles according to the CDC. CDC recently issued a travel advisory to urge all people traveling outside of the U.S. to receive two doses of MMR vaccine if they have never had measles. Recently, immunization rates among Kentucky’s kindergartners have declined. Results from the most recent school immunizations survey for the 2024-2025 school year indicate that only 86.9% of Kentucky kindergarteners are fully vaccinated against measles, which is lower than the national average of 93%. Two doses of MMR vaccine are required for school attendance in Kentucky. Kentucky’s first confirmed measles case of 2025 occurred in an adult resident in February. The second case occurred in March in a child who was traveling through the Commonwealth when they sought treatment. For more information about measles visit the Kentucky Department for Public Health measles website or the CDC measles website. ### Information on how the state is working to improve the lives and health of our people is available at CHFS.ky.gov. The cabinet can also be followed on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.