State health officials have confirmed an ongoing measles outbreak in Kentucky – the largest in the commonwealth in 35 years. As of Friday, 15 cases have been connected to this outbreak, with the majority identified in Western Kentucky.
Officials have confirmed 10 measles cases in Christian County. Two cases have been reported in neighboring Trigg County, and another in Todd County.
This outbreak is part of a nationwide trend of rising measles cases that health experts have connected to lowering vaccination rates across the country.
WKMS’s Hannah Saad spoke to Dr. Chris Toler, chief medical officer for Deaconess Health System’s Kentucky facilities – which includes hospitals in Hopkinsville, Henderson, Morganfield and Madisonville – about the highly contagious disease and how people can protect themselves during this outbreak…