The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) has identified a confirmed case of measles in an individual who attended a large gathering in the Hughes Auditorium on February 18th at Asbury College in Jessamine County, Kentucky while contagious. Large numbers of people attended the gathering from across Kentucky and from other states and countries and may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness.
Measles is a respiratory virus that causes a high fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. The rash typically appears 3 to 5 days after other symptoms begin. Measles can be serious, especially for babies, young children, and people with weakened immune systems. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. The virus is transmitted through the air and can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves the area. Infected people can spread measles to others before they have any symptoms and up to four days before the rash appears.
Measles is a vaccine preventable disease. The measles vaccine is highly protective; one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides 93% protection against measles and two doses provide 97% protection.
Anyone who may have been exposed at Asbury University who develops symptoms of measles and seeks treatment should CONTACT THE FACILITY PRIOR TO ARRIVING so that others will not be exposed.
