Halfway through October of 2026, Kentucky has already exceeded the total number of measles cases it reported in all of 2025.
According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services' online dashboard, the commonwealth has confirmed 12 times more total cases this year compared to last year. September saw the highest number of new cases in 2026.
Trigg, Christian, and Laurel counties are among the hardest hit. So far, seven people have been hospitalized with the highly-contagious disease. There have been no deaths in Kentucky due to the illness, but measles has claimed lives in other states.
Of the 157 confirmed cases in Kentucky, 155 were in patients who were not vaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.