Christian County continues to have the largest number of confirmed measles cases in the state, and Trigg County ranks second, according to numbers updated Monday in the state’s measles dashboard.
In the current outbreak, which began in July, Christian County has confirmed 36 cases and Trigg has confirmed 19.
Twenty-nine new cases have been confirmed in the past week, including 16 new cases in Christian County and nine in Trigg, state officials reported. That brings the state total to 78 cases in the current outbreak. Four cases also were confirmed in January.
Eight other counties have reported measles cases in this outbreak. Those are Barren (5), Caldwell (2), Carroll (5), Lewis (2), Owen (2), Todd (1), Trimble (1) and Washington (5).
All but two of Kentucky’s cases are in people who were not vaccinated or whose vaccination status could not be determined.
Statewide, the year-to-date measles cases by age group are:
- 11 in children age 4 and younger
- 38 in children ages 5 to 17
- 33 in adults age 18 and older
Seven people have been hospitalized, according to the state report. No deaths resulting from measles have been reported.
In a recent Facebook post, the Christian County Health Department advised residents on when they should seek emergency care for measles symptoms.
“If someone with measles is getting worse quickly or develops trouble breathing, pain when breathing or coughing, signs of dehydration, a fever or headache that will not stop, confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness, seek emergency care immediately,” the post states. “Call ahead before arriving at the hospital and let them know the person may have measles so they can prepare for your arrival.”
Measles is a contagious respiratory virus that is spread through the air.
In a press release issued in mid-August by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, officials said the first Christian County measles case was an individual “believed to have been exposed through contact with an out-of-state visitor from a community with an ongoing measles outbreak. Additional unconfirmed reports of measles in Christian County have led health officials to suspect a wider outbreak in the area.”
Christian County Health Department Director Devin Brumfield encouraged residents to review their vaccination status and to contact the health department for assistance.
Aside from noting exposure through an out-of-state visitor, no health officials at the local or state level have commented further on potential reasons for the large outbreak in Christian County.
The local health department, at 1700 Canton St., provides immunizations. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch from noon to 12:40 p.m.) Monday through Thursday and 7:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday. The phone number is 270-887-4160.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
