Measles Cases Surge Past 150 in Kentucky; Major Outbreak Identified in Laurel County

Kentucky's measles outbreak continues to accelerate, with the state reporting 157 cases so far in 2026 - just days after the case count passed 100, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The majority of new cases are concentrated in Laurel County in southeast Kentucky, which has gone from seven cases to 56 in a matter of days. The state's dashboard reports the Laurel County cluster involves people who are unvaccinated from several large households that have been "isolated from the broader community."

Of the total state count, nine cases have led to hospitalization. No deaths have been reported. Of the cases tracked, only one person reported having the full vaccine; one case had a single MMR dose, and the rest had none.

The outbreak is the largest the state has seen in decades. Kentucky had only 13 measles cases total in 2025 and none the year prior. Gov. Andy Beshear has urged vaccination, saying: "We have a proven tool that for over a quarter century eliminated it from the United States. The only reason it's resurging now is because of negligent information and guidance being shared freely."

Dr. Steve Stack of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has been working with local health officials to encourage vaccination as the outbreak continues to spread. Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that can be especially severe in infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Reporting by WLKY. Read the original report: Measles cases surge past 150 in Kentucky; big outbreak identified in one county.