Currently, Kentucky has five confirmed measles cases, four of which are linked to the same outbreak.

Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus that was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, can be prevented through vaccination.

In addition to Kentucky, other states with ongoing measles outbreaks include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah, as defined by the CDC.

Dr. Stack noted that the spread of measles in Kentucky is not surprising given the ongoing outbreaks in other states and countries.

In 2025, there have been 27 outbreaks reported across the country, accounting for 88% of the confirmed cases, with 1,115 cases linked to these outbreaks.

The CDC has reported a total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases nationwide in 2025, with Kentucky recently announcing its own outbreak.

In Kentucky, the outbreak includes four confirmed cases in Fayette County and neighboring Woodford County, contributing to a total of seven cases for the year.

Tragically, this year, two elementary school-aged children in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died from measles, all of whom were unvaccinated.

Overall, three deaths have been linked to recent outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, all involving unvaccinated individuals.

Measles is highly contagious, infecting up to 90% of unprotected individuals upon exposure, and can lead to severe health complications, especially in pregnant women and unvaccinated children.

Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, emphasized the importance of vaccination to prevent measles and urged parents to vaccinate their children.

None of the four individuals in the Woodford County outbreak were vaccinated for measles, raising concerns about preventable diseases.