HOPKINSVILLE, KY – Kentucky health officials announced that a case of measles with a high number of community exposures has been confirmed in Christian County. This is the first confirmed case in Kentucky since January.
The individual 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 news release from the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Additional unconfirmed reports of measles in Christian County have led health officials to suspect a wider outbreak in the area, although no specific area of the county was named.
“The Christian County Health Department (CCHD) remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our residents,” said CCHD Director Devin Brumfield. “CCHD staff are working closely with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and local partners to identify potential exposures, notify those who may be at risk, and provide appropriate guidance.”
Kentucky Department for Public Health explained that 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.
CCHD Communication Director Cloie Rager said, “We encourage residents to review their vaccination status and contact their healthcare provider or the Chrisitan County Health Department with potential concerns. We will continue to share information and updates as it comes available while respecting patient privacy.”
The U.S. is currently experiencing the largest measles outbreak in since it was declared eliminated in here in 2000. As of Aug. 6, the CDC had reported more than 2,465 confirmed cases of measles across the country, the highest number of cases in a single year in 35 years. Kentucky Department for Public Health says confirmed cases and outbreaks have recently been reported in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, among other states.
For more information about measles, including a link to the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s measles dashboard which updates case counts daily, please visit the department’s measles webpage at: www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/idb/Pages/measles.aspx.
| FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Christian County Now on Facebook