Mayor Greenberg announced this week that a second measles case has been confirmed in Jefferson County. According to Dr. Kris Bryant, pediatric infectious disease specialist and associate medical director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, the second case is a known contact of the first and has been in quarantine since their exposure.
Health officials report that there are no new public exposures associated with this second case, and importantly, neither case is related to the recent measles outbreak in Woodford and Fayette Counties. Until these recent events, Jefferson County had not reported a measles case since 2011.
So far in 2025, The Kentucky Department for Public Health has reported 14 confirmed measles cases in Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Todd and Woodford counties. Thirteen of those infected were unvaccinated, and one had received only a single dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
While measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, outbreaks can and do still occur from unvaccinated travelers or individual. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, and it can quickly spread among those who are unvaccinated.
Protect yourself and your family
The good news is that the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection. Children should receive two doses: the first at 12–15 months and the second between ages 4–6.
“Vaccines offer the best protection against dangerous diseases,” said Dr. Bryant. “They are among the most-tested and safest medical products available.”
If you aren’t sure if you’ve been vaccinated against measles, there are several things you can do:
- Ask for your immunization records from the state where you were born. In Kentucky, you can access the Kentucky Immunizations Records portal.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about a blood test to measure the level of antibodies in your blood (also known as titers.)
Back-to-school reminder: Stay up to date on vaccines
As we are about to head back to school, it’s a good time to make sure your children are up to date on not just their MMR vaccine, but on all those routine childhood vaccines.
“When we immunize children, it’s a lot like helping them learn to read. Vaccines are beginner texts that our immune systems use to practice comprehending a disease,” Dr. Bryant said. “With that literacy, they can read a disease more quickly when they encounter it—and respond and resist right away.”
To schedule a vaccine appointment, contact your child’s healthcare provider. The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness provides vaccines for adults and children throughout the year. Call 502-574-5380 to schedule an appointment.