CHRISTIAN COUNTY, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Last week Kentucky health officials confirmed an outbreak of measles in Kentucky stemming from Christian County with a high number of community exposures. As of Aug. 17, there are now confirmed cases in Christian, Todd, Trigg, and Washington Counties, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Their statement disclosed that two people have been hospitalized with measles since the outbreak began. As of Aug. 17, Kentucky Measles Case Data from the public health website says there are 10 confirmed cases for Christian County. All of the cases have occurred in unvaccinated individuals including young children.
“There have been more cases of measles in Kentucky in 2026 than any year since 1991,” said a statement from KPH, adding that vaccination is the best protection again the measles.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health and local health departments are also investigating reports of measles in other counties. The Kentucky Department for Public Health publishes updated county case counts each morning, Monday through Friday, on their website.
The individual at the start of the outbreak was not vaccinated against measles and is believed to have been exposed through contact with an out-of-state visitor from a community with an ongoing measles outbreak, according to a previous news release from the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Health officials say measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children. Measles is spread through the air where it can remain suspended for up to two hours.
Early symptoms of measles begin 8 to 12 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red/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.
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