Confirmed Measles Case in Jessamine County: KDPH Offers Vaccination Advice
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) has confirmed a case of measles in a Jessamine County resident who attended the spiritual revival at Asbury University on Feb. 18.[0] This is the third case in Kentucky over the past three months, with the first being reported in December 2022 in Christian County and the second being reported in Powell County in January.[1]
KDPH Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said in a statement that anyone who attended the revival on Feb. 18 may have been exposed to measles and those who are unvaccinated should quarantine for 21 days and get the measles vaccine, which is safe and effective.[0]
Typically, the measles vaccine is administered in conjunction with the mumps and rubella vaccine to infants between the ages of 12-15 months.[2] A booster dose of the MMR vaccine is typically administered between the ages of 4-6.[3] The Kentucky Department of Public Health (KDPH) reports that two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rub[3]
KDPH also noted that all cases of measles that are reported in Kentucky are thoroughly investigated and the department is working with Asbury University, Jessamine County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[4]
KDPH is actively collaborating with local health departments to encourage MMR vaccination in areas with lower vaccination rates.[5] Recent data released from CDC indicates that MMR vaccine coverage among Kentucky kindergarteners is among the lowest in the nation, with less than 87% of them being vaccinated.[4]
Stack suggested that anyone who may have encountered exposure at Asbury and starts to display signs should isolate themselves from others and contact their medical provider, urgent care, or emergency department to get tested, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated.[6]
He also warned that anyone who arrives at a healthcare facility without advance notice risks exposing other people.[1]
KDPH encourages everyone to get the MMR vaccine to protect themselves and those around them from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
0. “Health officials: New measles case linked to Asbury revival” WKYT, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.wkyt.com/2023/02/25/health-officials-new-measles-case-linked-asbury-revival
1. “3rd case of measles in Kentucky linked to ‘revival' at Asbury University” WHAS11.com, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.whas11.com/article/news/health/kentucky-measles-case-linked-to-asbury-university-revival-service/417-3b2f5bb6-7447-417d-b61d-2927af792a0c
2. “Measles case tied to Asbury University revival” LEX 18 News – Lexington, KY, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.lex18.com/news/measles-case-tied-to-asbury-university-revival
3. “Person who attended large revival at private university in Kentucky tests positive for measles” WPSD Local 6, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/person-who-attended-large-revival-at-private-university-in-kentucky-tests-positive-for-measles/article_6a96b3a8-b4ae-11ed-be55-77281de9522a.html
4. “Measles case confirmed from attendee at Asbury revival Feb. 18” Kentucky Today, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.kentuckytoday.com/news/measles-case-confirmed-from-attendee-at-asbury-revival-feb-18/article_e22a6e88-b4b2-11ed-b21e-e3324de7af16.html
5. “Measles case in Jessamine County is tied to revival at Asbury University” AOL, 24 Feb. 2023, https://www.aol.com/news/measles-case-jessamine-county-tied-023027317.html
6. “Jessamine County resident tests positive for measles after Asbury University revival” Fox 56 News, 25 Feb. 2023, https://fox56news.com/news/local/jessamine-county-resident-tests-positive-for-measles-after-asbury-university-revival
