The first measles outbreak in Kentucky was in 2025, as U.S. case counts were only high in 30 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that there were 1,267 confirmed cases of measles this year. Texas confirmed three other measles cases this week were linked to major outbreaks in late winter and spring.
There are three other big explosions in North America. The longest one from Ontario, Canada, ontario, Canada, has 2,212 cases from mid-October to June 24. The province recorded its first death on June 5 in a baby with congenital measles but also with other preexisting diseases.
Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has illed 1,169 people as of Wednesday. According to the state Department of Health, there were 2,810 measles cases and 8 deaths in Chihuahua, Mexico as of Wednesday.
Other states of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outbreaks include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oklahoma and Utah.
In the U.S., an adult in the center of West Texas and New Mexico died of measles this year. No one was vaccinated.
The state announced on Monday that four cases broke out in central Kentucky. These cases are in Fayette County, including Lexington and neighboring Woodford County. The state has confirmed a total of 7 cases this year.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is airborne and can easily spread when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. It is preventable by vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the United States since 2000.
