Measles Outbreak in Kentucky Confirmed
By Stephanie Brown HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- There has been nationwide total of 1,267 confirmed cases of measles this year, with Kentucky being the latest state to announce an outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
There are currently five measles cases in Kentucky. Four of these cases are linked to the same outbreak.
"When there are measles outbreaks in other states and nearby countries, it is not surprising to see spread to Kentucky," Steven Stack, M.D., secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said in a statement. "Measles can be very serious, but it is avoidable through vaccination. We urge all parents to have their children vaccinated to ensure they are protected from preventable diseases like measles."
So far in 2025, 27 outbreaks have been reported, and 88 percent of the confirmed cases (1,115 of 1,267) are linked to these outbreaks. A total of 285 measles cases were reported by 33 jurisdictions in 2024 (16 outbreaks). The CDC defines an outbreak as at least three related cases.
Texas, which saw the nation's largest outbreak during the late winter of 2024 and spring of 2025, reported three additional cases this week. The case count in Texas now totals 753 since late January.
Last week, the New Mexico Department of Health reported five measles cases at the Luna County Detention Center in Deming. Officials are currently determining the vaccination status of people being held at the facility.
"The cases at Luna County Detention Center are a stark reminder that the measles outbreak in New Mexico is not over," Chad Smelser, M.D., a medical epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health, said in a statement. "We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles."
As part of the recent measles outbreak that began in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, three deaths have been reported: two elementary school-aged children from the West Texas epicenter and an adult in New Mexico, all of whom were unvaccinated.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2025
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