The Kentucky Department for Public Health has recorded 100 cases of measles since July amid a statewide outbreak. The department confirmed the latest cases, seven in Laurel County, Friday.
Fifty-six of the state’s cases were confirmed in September alone.
Including another four cases reported in Jessamine County in January, Kentucky has seen 104 measles cases and nine hospitalizations since the beginning of 2026. It’s the highest case count since 1991, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Children younger than 5 are normally most at-risk for the disease. But 47 cases have been found in children ages 5 to 17, and another 45 are in adults. Children younger than 5 have accounted for the remaining 12 cases.
Nearly all the cases — 102 out of 104 — have been found in those unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. One case was found in a fully vaccinated person with two vaccine doses, and another in a person with one dose.
Most of the cases have been in Western Kentucky, including 44 in Christian County and another 25 in Trigg County. Other cases have been reported in Lyon, Todd, Barren, Washington, Lewis, Owen, Trimble and Carroll counties.
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and rashes. If you’re exposed, health officials recommend watching for symptoms for 21 days, and to contact your health care provider if they develop.
The cabinet recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine to stay protected.
As of Oct. 8, 4,080 confirmed measles cases and 42 outbreaks have been reported across the U.S., according to the CDC.
