The Kentucky Department of Health has announced that it can confirm a case of measles identified in an adult Kentucky resident.
According to a news release, the resident from Franklin County had recently traveled internationally to an area with an ongoing measles transmission. The resident attended a fitness center in Frankfort, Kentucky while infectious, so health officials are working to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
The measles virus spreads through the air and can survive for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, and is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious health conditions, especially in young children.
Early symptoms of measles begin 8-12 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.
Luckily, if you’ve had the measles vaccine, you are well protected against the virus—but individuals who have not been vaccinated should quarantine for 21 days after they are exposed and should call a doctor immediately if they develop symptoms.
This Kentucky case comes amid a significant rise in measles cases both globally and in the United States, including outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. The last confirmed case of measles in Kentucky was in February of 2023.