Kentucky's measles outbreak tops 200 cases, the most the state has seen in decades

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 30) — Kentucky's measles count passed 200 on Thursday, when the state Department for Public Health reported 201 confirmed cases for 2026.

The total has roughly doubled in two weeks, Kentucky Today reported. Eleven people have been hospitalized. No one has died.

Christian County in western Kentucky has the most cases with 65, followed by Laurel County with 56, Trigg County with 31 and Bath County with 15, according to the state figures cited by Kentucky Today. Caldwell, Barren, Carroll, Washington, Jessamine, Todd, Lewis, Owen and Trimble counties have smaller numbers. Louisville and Jefferson County have reported none.

Of the 201 people infected, 199 were unvaccinated or had no known vaccination record, the state data show. One person had received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and one had received both. Children and teens make up more than half of the cases, with 23 under age 5 and 84 between 5 and 17.

State officials have called it the worst measles outbreak in Kentucky since 1991. Most cases have turned up in close-knit communities with low vaccination rates, LEX18 reported.

"We've had more cases of measles this year than the last 32 years of our commonwealth," Gov. Andy Beshear said, according to WDRB+WAVE.

Health officials are urging families to make sure children get both MMR doses, which they say are about 97% effective. Kindergarten MMR coverage in Kentucky rose to 91.1% in the 2025-26 school year from 86.9% the year before, still below the national average of about 93%, Kentucky Today reported. The state updates its county-by-county case counts every weekday.