Kentucky’s measles outbreak continues to grow; 17 new cases confirmed in August

By Sarah Ladd and Liam Niemeyer
Kentucky Lantern

Kentucky’s measles outbreak has increased by 10 new cases, according to state data.

In total the state has now confirmed 29 cases of measles this year, the most seen since 1991, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Of those, 17 were confirmed in August, according to the state’s measles dashboard.

An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a Thursday morning press conference, Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that vaccines are “safe, effective and save lives.”

“Please talk to your doctor, roll up your sleeves, get your kids vaccinated. Their lives are too important to risk,” Beshear said. 

During the press conference, Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Steven Stack said measles is incredibly contagious, telling people who are not vaccinated against measles but have been exposed to someone infected to call the doctor’s office or hospital first before arriving to seek care.

“We need to make sure we take enhanced precautions before you walk into the building,” Stack said. “If you have measles, stay home, stay away from people until your symptoms are resolved, and talk to your healthcare provider about when you are no longer infectious, so that you can return to the general community without exposing others.”

As of Wednesday, there were the following confirmed cases this year:

All cases from this year are in individuals who are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown, according to the state’s measles dashboard. There have been no measles deaths this year.

Measles is extremely contagious and spread through the air from coughs or sneezes, according to the CDC. One infected person can infect nine in 10 unprotected people around them.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash. The best protection against measles is the measles vaccination, which is generally available at pharmacies and through medical providers. The CDC recommends the measles vaccination series at 12-15 months and then at 4-6 years old.

Beshear also said Thursday that the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lacked qualifications and “his guidance is dangerous on this topic.”

“Diseases that had killed so many people throughout the course of human history have been virtually and entirely eliminated, and are now returning because of historically bad public health advice that’s coming out of Washington D.C.” Beshear said.