On February 24, 2023, the Kentucky Department for Public Health confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated Jessamine County resident. Press Release: Confirmed Measles Case in Jessamine County (Feb. 24, 2023, PDF)

Call the toll-free Measles Hotline 855.598.2246 for answers to general measles questions.

What is measles?

Measles is a disease caused by a highly contagious virus. People with measles spread the virus through the air when they cough, sneeze, or breathe.

Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and rash. Koplik spots (tiny white spots inside the mouth) can appear 2 to 3 days after symptoms begin. Some people who become sick with measles also get a serious lung infection, such as pneumonia. Although severe cases are rare, measles can cause swelling of the brain and even death. Measles can be especially severe in infants, pregnant women, and in people who have weakened immune systems.​

Measles is a vaccine preventable disease.  Learn more about vaccine schedules and recommendations: CDC| Vaccines and Preventable Diseases

Health officials urge anyone who may have been exposed to check their immunization records and confirm they are protected against measles. Kentucky residents can access their immunization records through the Kentucky Immunization Registry Public Portal at chfs.ky.gov/KDPHMyVaxRecord​.

For more information about measles, check out the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Do I need the measles vaccine?

Measles can be prevented through vaccination. In the United States, the first dose of measles vaccine is routinely administered in combination with mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) to children at age 12 months through 15 months. A second MMR dose is routinely administered at age 4 through 6 years. Children may also get MMRV vaccine whiche protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Children, teens, and adults who have not received the MMR may receive the vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are protected from measles if they have written documentation of at least one of the following:

• You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine and you are a school-aged child (grades K-12), college or university student, healthcare personnel, international traveler, or in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission
• You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine and you are a preschool-aged child or will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission
• Laboratory-confirmed measles infection in your lifetime
• Laboratory-confirmed immunity to measles
• Born before 1957

Kentucky residents can access their immunization records through the Kentucky Immunization Registry Public Portal at chfs.ky.gov/KDPHMyVaxRecord​.  

If you are unsure whether you are immune to measles and you do not have written documentation of measles immunity, you should talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. There is no harm in getting another dose of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella). It is also possible to have a healthcare provider test your blood to determine whether you are immune, but this is generally not recommended.