LEXINGTON, Ky. — Public health officials are urging Kentuckians to protect themselves and others from measles. There are now six cases reported in Kentucky after four new cases were announced Friday by the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

Three of Kentucky’s six known measles cases are in the same Woodford County household. Public health director at the Woodford County Health Department, Cassie Prather, said measles is one of the most contagious viral infections.

“When you’re sharing a space with someone who’s positive, they’re likely spreading it before you even know they’re infected,” Prather said.

In all three cases, the patients are unvaccinated. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, but the most distinguishable is a rash.

“That rash does come on after you’ve had the symptoms for several days and that was actually how our index case was identified so early by a health care provider,” Prather said.

According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the measles outbreak in Woodford County has caused one case in Fayette County.

“We were able to through our strong contact tracing, we were able to contact any direct contacts to the individual,” said Steve Davis, medical director of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

Davis said the infected individual has been quarantined for two weeks. Right now, there’s little concern for a widespread infection in the county.

“We don’t at least right now see a risk for large community exposure and prayerfully we hope it stays that way,” Davis said.

With over 1,200 cases nationwide, it’s the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. since 2000. Davis said the disease is making a comeback because of lower vaccination rates, particularly among school-aged children and more international travel.

“Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate,” Davis said.

Prather and Davis say the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is safe and almost 100% effective in prevention

“This has been around for years and kids that are not yet a year old have not been vaccinated,” Prather said. “You typically don’t get that vaccine until you’re around 12 to 18 months old and then the second dose comes around four to six years old.”

Lexington residents with any measles related questions can contact the health department’s epidemiology team at (859)-288-2372.