Health officials with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Franklin County Health Department announced on Wednesday a confirmed case of measles had been identified in an adult Kentucky resident.
According to state health officials, they are working to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. The resident attended a fitness center in Frankfort while infectious. Individuals who were at the Planet Fitness at 101 Allen Way in Frankfort, Kentucky on Monday, February 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children. The measles virus spreads through the air and can survive for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is safe and effective.
The measles case in Kentucky has emerged amidst a notable increase in measles cases both globally and within the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been three measles outbreaks in the U.S. in 2025, including ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Texas health officials announced the death of an unvaccinated child related to the measles outbreak on Wednesday, which is the first measles-related death reported in the U.S. since 2015.
The last confirmed case of measles in Kentucky was in February 2023.
To ensure you are up to date with all of your vaccinations, visit the KYIR Public Portal at https://kyirpublicportal.ky.gov/ or talk to your health care provider.
