Health Officials Announce Measles Case in Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2025) – Today, health officials with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) and Franklin County Health Department announced a confirmed case of measles identified in an adult Kentucky resident. The resident had recently traveled internationally to an area with ongoing measles transmission.
Kentucky health officials are working to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. The resident attended a fitness center in Frankfort, Kentucky while infectious. Individuals who were at the below location during the date and time listed may have been exposed:
- Planet Fitness at 101 Allen Way in Frankfort, Kentucky on Monday, Feb. 17 (9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)
Lawrence Co. Health Dept. director Debbie Miller
Lawrence County Health Dept director Debbie Miller commented after the news about the measles case reported in northern Ky.
“This is the first confirmed case of measles in a Kentucky resident since 2023, Miller said. Measles is a respiratory virus. It is one of the most contagious diseases and can be prevented through vaccination.
“Children routinely receive their first dose of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine at age 12 -15 months and a second dose at 4-6 years of age. Mose people are immune to measles if they have had the 2 doses of vaccine, previous confirmed measles infection, laboratory-confirmed immunity, or were born before 1957.
“Many children have fallen behind on routine vaccinations due to missing checkups during the pandemic.
“The most recent survey of Lawrence County kindergarten students shows that 88.5% are up to date on the MMR vaccine. The survey shows 99% of 7th and 11th grade students are up to date so nearly all have caught up by middle and high school. It is important to ensure your child is fully protected against measles. It can be a very serious disease, especially for babies, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.
“If you don’t know your status, you can visit the Kentucky Immunization Registry at https://kyir.chfs.ky.gov/ or call the health department at 606-638-4389 and we can look that up for you. Call us to schedule your immunization appointment. We are open from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am – 1:30 pm on Fridays. We also stay open until 6 pm on Mondays to accommodate those who can’t come during work/school hours.”
Kentucky’s measles case comes amid a significant rise in cases of measles globally and within the U.S. According to the CDC, there have been three measles outbreaks in the U.S. in 2025, including ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Texas health officials announced the death of an unvaccinated child related to the measles outbreak today, which is the first measles-related death reported in the U.S. since 2015.
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For more information about measles visit the Kentucky Department for Public Health measles website or the CDC measles website.
