LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A new case of measles was confirmed in Christian County, leading Kentucky health officials to suspect a wider outbreak in the area.
According to a release from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the resident who tested positive was not vaccinated against measles.
The department said they believe the person was exposed through contact with an out-of-state visitor who lives in a community with a measles outbreak.
Because there are additional unconfirmed reports of measles in Christian County, health officials said they suspect a wider outbreak in the area.
"Measles is a serious, debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disease," said Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack. "Fortunately, measles is almost entirely preventable for those who have been vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. We urge all parents and caregivers to talk to their healthcare providers about their child’s immunizations and how best to keep their families healthy."
The Christian County Health Department is working with state officials to identify potential exposures and notify people who may be at risk.
"I am fairly confident we'll report additional confirmed cases here in the near future when the laboratory results come back," Stack said.
No known public exposure locations have been identified at this time.
This is Kentucky's first confirmed measles case since January, when four cases were identified in Jessamine County.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, can cause serious health problems, especially in young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus spreads through the air after someone infected coughs or sneezes. It can then linger for up to two hours after the infected person leaves.
The virus can also be spread if someone touches surfaces that an infected person has touched. Symptoms include a cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by white spots that appear on the face and down the body. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is the best protection against measles, according to health officials.
As of Aug. 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported more than 2,465 confirmed cases across the country — the most in a single year in 35 years.
The virus is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
In Kentucky, data shows 90% of kindergarteners are fully vaccinated, which is lower than the national average of 93%. That puts the state's immunization rates among the lowest in the country.
"For measles, if you get two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, you are 97% likely to never get the disease in your whole life," said Stack.
This comes in the same week President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for new childhood vaccine recommendations. He's asking that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine be separated into three different single shots given to children at separate appointments.
Kelly Taulbee with Kentucky Voices for Health said that's concerning.
"Right on the tail of back-to-school season and as we head into respiratory season as well, that can be a big confusion point for many families," Taulbee said.
Public health experts have raised concerns that spacing out shots could put kids at risk if they become infected before going back to the doctor.
Now, state officials in Kentucky are staying on high alert to prevent it from spreading more.
"I just urge everyone to please continue to get vaccinated because it's a real sadness whenever someone gets really sick and ends up in the hospital but it's particularly unfortunate when someone could have taken a very simple step and guaranteed it would not happen," Stack said.
Doctors said if you believe you have the measles make sure to call ahead if you're going to the doctor so other people aren't exposed.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health has a measles dashboard where confirmed cases across the state are tracked and updated each weekday. Click here to access it.
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