New measles case linked to Asbury revival

JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – The state Department of Public Health has confirmed a new case of measles in Kentucky, and officials say that person attended part of the 16 Day Revival at Asbury University.

State health officials say the person is a resident of Jessamine County. They say the person is not vaccinated and was awake on February 18.

They say anyone else who attended that day could have been exposed. They encourage anyone not vaccinated against measles to self-quarantine for 21 days and get vaccinated against measles.

Asbury University requires its students to receive the two-dose MMR vaccine. But with tens of thousands of people descending on the small town of Wilmore during those days, Dr Lee Dossett says that is cause for concern.

“You have people coming from all over the state, from all over the country,” Dr. Dossett said. “Anyone who was there that day or any of the days, check your vaccination status.”

CDC data shows that the vaccine is about 97% effective if you have received two doses. Yet only about 86.5 percent of kindergarten-age children in Kentucky got it. This is below the national average of more than 93%.

“A lower vaccination rate puts people at risk because you don’t have that herd immunity,” Dr Dossett said.

Dr. Dossett hopes this case can be a wake-up call for parents in Kentucky.

“To my knowledge, I have never seen a case of measles in my career,” said Dr. Dossett. “Measles is a pretty miserable thing; that’s why it’s so important. This is why we insist on vaccines.

The university released a statement on Friday. He cited CDC recommendations, saying anyone unvaccinated there on the 18th should quarantine for 21 days.

Three cases of measles have been reported in the past three months in Kentucky.

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