In late 2022, an outbreak of measles sickened 85 children in Columbus, Ohio, sending more than 40% of them to the hospital. In recent weeks, measles cases have been on the rise once again, with outbreaks identified in multiple communities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that between Dec. 1, 2023, and Jan. 23, 2024, there were 23 confirmed cases of measles in the United States. Among these 23 cases, there were two outbreaks of more than five cases and seven were imported by international travelers. Most cases were among children and adolescents who were not vaccinated against measles, despite being old enough to get the vaccine.
The last confirmed case of measles in Jefferson County was prior to 2000, and there are currently no confirmed cases of measles in Kentucky, however, there were a few cases in Kentucky in 2023. With measles on the rise in the US and abroad, including a 45-fold increase in cases in European nations last year, the chances of the virus arriving in Louisville have never been higher.
Measles causes a respiratory illness. Common symptoms include cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that begins on the head and face and spreads down the body. The measles virus is extremely contagious and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, diarrhea causing dehydration, and brain inflammation. Complications are most common in babies, young children, and adults over 20 years old. It is spread through the air by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area, which means you can get infected simply by being in a room occupied by an infected person.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. Two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are 96% effective against measles and generally provide life-long protection. The first dose is given at 12-15 months of age and the second before entry to kindergarten. Catch up doses can be given at any age. According to the latest vaccination report from the CDC, measles vaccine coverage among Kentucky kindergartners was among the in the nation. It’s estimated that 95% of people must be fully immunized against measles for the community to be adequately protected against measles outbreaks. It’s imperative to ensure children are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine to prevent measles outbreaks and severe illness among those most vulnerable
If you or your child need the MMR vaccine, contact your healthcare provider or make an appointment with the Department of Public Health and Wellness immunization clinic by calling 502-574-5380. Are you traveling outside the U.S. with your children? A dose of measles vaccine is recommended for children as young as 6 months of age to prevent travel-associated measles.
If you aren’t sure if you or your child has been vaccinated against measles, you can request vaccination records from the Kentucky Immunization Registry online, by calling 502-564-0038, or by emailing KYIRHelpdesk@ky.gov.
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