Published: September 23, 2026
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Measles activity is rising across the region. Kentucky health officials have confirmed at least 50 cases in 2026, the most the state has seen since 1991, with cases identified in at least 10 counties as of mid-September, with at least five reported hospitalizations. Approximately one-third of the cases have occurred in adults. Indiana also has reported measles cases this year.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tracked more than 3,294 confirmed cases across 47 jurisdictions as of early September. Of those cases, 95% have been in unvaccinated individuals.
Measles can affect people of any age. Infants, young children, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems may face a higher risk of serious complications.“Measles doesn’t just impact children,” said Carrie Regnier, DNP, MPH, R.N., director, patient care, Norton Medical Group. “ Because vaccination eliminated measles in the United States in 2000, most adults haven’t had to think about measles for a long time. But with MMR vaccine rates declining over the last seven to 10 years, measles is spreading again, and people of all ages could be at risk.”
As cases climb throughout Kentuck, questions about risks for adults are coming up more often. What should you know about getting measles as an adult?
“Measles risk, immunity and what to do after a possible exposure are important,” Carrie said.
Measles, also called rubeola, was once a common childhood illness. It’s caused by a virus that spreads easily through the air through sneezing, coughing or breathing.
Initial symptoms of measles start to appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include a high fever (104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), cough, runny nose or red, watery eyes. Two to three days after initial symptoms appear, tiny white spots might appear inside the mouth. Measles rash appears, on average, 14 days after exposure to measles, although it may appear as early as seven days or as late as 21 days. The rash starts as flat red spots on the face near the hairline then spreads down the body to the rest of the face, neck, torso, arms, legs and feet. A person is contagious from four days before through four days after the rash appears.
Complications are more common for children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant individuals and people with a severely weakened immune system. Complications can be severe, including the need to be hospitalized, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation and swelling) and even death. Measles during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and having a baby with a low birth weight if you have not been vaccinated. After people recover from the acute illness with measles, they can be at risk for other bacterial and viral infections, because the measles virus affects the body’s immune system and makes it harder to fight other infections.
Because there are no medications approved for measles infection, supportive care and symptom management are the treatment.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, capable of spreading through the air and lingering in a space for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. When a community’s vaccination rate dips below the roughly 95% needed for herd immunity, the virus finds pockets of unvaccinated people to spread through. Almost all of Kentucky’s 2026 cases have been in people who were not vaccinated against measles.
Measles isn’t only a childhood disease. Adults who were never vaccinated, who received an older or less effective version of the vaccine, or who are unsure of their vaccination history can still get measles and spread it to others. Adults also tend to have more contact with vulnerable groups — infants too young to be vaccinated, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems — which raises the risk of an exposure.
Your healthcare provider can review your vaccination history and other evidence of immunity. You may be considered protected if you have:
If you’re unsure, ask your healthcare provider what you need.
Old immunization records, school forms or a health system’s patient portal, such as Norton MyChart, or statewide portals such as the Kentucky Public Health or MyVaxIndiana portals, are good places to look first. Adults who can’t locate records shouldn’t assume they are or aren’t protected — a clinician can help sort out next steps, which may include a dose of vaccine or a blood test for immunity.
This depends on individual risk, and it’s a nuance worth getting right: Most adults don’t need an additional dose just because time has passed. According to CDC vaccine recommendations, most adults need documentation of one MMR dose or other evidence of immunity. Two doses are recommended for adults at higher risk of exposure, including:
Adults who fall into one of these categories and aren’t sure how many doses they’ve had should talk with a healthcare provider about their specific situation rather than assuming either way.
Generally, yes. Adults born before 1957 typically are considered to have presumptive evidence of immunity, since measles circulated so widely before the vaccine existed that most people in this age group were infected naturally. There are exceptions, including some healthcare personnel, so anyone in this group with specific concerns should still check with a healthcare provider.
Beyond the two-dose groups above, some adults need individualized vaccine recommendations rather than a standard guidance, including:
The MMR and MMR-varicella vaccines contain live, weakened forms of the viruses. They work very similarly to the way your body’s defenses would naturally respond to a virus by creating antibodies. Live vaccines are not given during pregnancy or to people with significantly weakened immune systems. This makes prevention especially important for these groups, since they can’t always simply get vaccinated in response to a nearby case of measles. Pregnant or immunocompromised people who have a possible exposure, or who have questions about their protection, should contact their healthcare provider promptly for guidance specific to their situation.
Because measles remains common in many parts of the world, international travelers should have two doses of MMR vaccine before departure. Although MMR is not routinely given until 12 months of age, a single dose is recommended for infants 6 to 11 months of age. These infants still need two doses of MMR given at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years. Anyone with upcoming international travel should check with a healthcare provider well before the trip, since it can take time to complete a vaccine series or confirm immunity.
Anyone with possible measles exposure or symptoms should call before arriving at a healthcare office, Norton Immediate Care Center (or similar clinic) or emergency department, rather than simply showing up. Measles spreads easily through the air, and calling ahead allows the facility to prepare — for example, by arranging a separate entrance or exam room — to protect other patients, including infants, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems.
Reviewed by:
Carrie Regnier, DNP, MPH, R.N., director, patient care, Norton Medical Group
Kristina K. Bryant, M.D., pediatric infectious diseases physician, Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases