Kentucky Health News
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has announced a potential measles case exposure in Lexington.
The unvaccinated traveler from out of state stayed at the Hyatt Place in Hamburg from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 and dined at the Hamburg Panera location on Jan 1, according to the health department.
“Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children. Vaccination is the best protection against measles,” the health department said in a Facebook post. “If you have concerns about exposure to measles, contact your health care provider.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can live for up to two hours in the airspace after an infected person leaves the room.
“If you have measles, up to 90% of the people close to you, who are not immune, will also become infected,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kentucky had 13 confirmed measles cases in 2025, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Nationwide, 2,144 confirmed cases were reported in 2025.
Health officials urge people not to ignore any symptoms of measles. Symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Several days after the start of symptoms, a rash occurs. It usually starts on the head and spreads down the body. Symptoms of measles can appear up to 21 days after exposure.
The best protection against measles is the two-dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is recommended for children at 12 to 15 months old, with a second dose between ages 4 and 6.
Recently, Kentucky health officials announced another potential exposure from an unvaccinated traveler who visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown on Dec. 29, and stayed at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Dry Ridge from Dec. 28 to 30.
