FRANKFORT, Kentucky – The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) and the Franklin County Health Department have confirmed the state’s first measles case since 2023. The case, announced on February 26, involves an adult resident who recently traveled internationally to an area experiencing ongoing measles transmission.
Health officials say the individual visited a Planet Fitness gym in Frankfort on February 17 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. while infectious. As a result, authorities are working to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed during that timeframe.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive red rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can remain viable on surfaces for up to two hours. Complications from measles can be severe, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and, in rare cases, death. Vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent infection, providing approximately 97% protection after two doses. Despite being declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, measles has seen a resurgence in recent years, primarily due to declining vaccination rates and international travel to areas with ongoing outbreaks. Health officials emphasize the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent the spread of this preventable disease
Despite the availability of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, Kentucky’s vaccination rates remain a concern. Recent estimates show that only 90% of the state’s kindergartners are vaccinated, which is below the national average. Public health officials warn that lower immunization rates increase the risk of outbreaks, especially in communities with reduced herd immunity.
Officials are urging individuals who may have been exposed and are unvaccinated to quarantine for 21 days and monitor for symptoms, which typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a healthcare provider immediately.
Health authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination as the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.