A second confirmed case of measles has state and local health officials reminding Kentuckians of the importance of vaccination.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says the second confirmed case of measles in the commonwealth this year occurred in March. The patient was a child who was traveling through Kentucky when they sought treatment. The child is not a resident of the United States, but because they were diagnosed at a health care facility in Kentucky it is counted as a state incident. There are no other cases or risks of exposure associated with this case.
The CHFS says immunization coverage for Kentucky kindergartners has dropped to its lowest in seven years. The national coverage average for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which is legally required for school attendance in Kentucky, is 93 percent. Kentucky’s coverage average is 86.9 percent this school year, down from 90 percent last school year. This comes as the United States experiences the largest outbreak of measles since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.
The first dose of MMR is routinely administered between ages 12 and 15 months, then a second dose is administered between ages 4 and 6 years. The CDC says two doses of MMR is 97 percent effective against measles.
The Lincoln Trail District Health Department provides measles vaccinations at all of its health centers. Contact the health department or your primary care provider for more information.
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