Kentucky has reported 170 confirmed measles cases this year, up from 104 on Oct. 9, according to state Cabinet for Health and Family Services data updated Friday, Oct. 16.

Ten people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Boone County has no reported cases, while Laurel County accounts for 56 of the statewide total.

Nine people statewide have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Nearly all cases have been in people without a recorded measles vaccination, according to state data. Only one person with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and one person with a single dose have tested positive.

"The MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles … The MMR vaccine has been around for more than half a century. This isn't a new vaccine," Tyler Caldwell, co-director of the Laurel County Health Department, told Spectrum News on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said on Friday, Oct. 9 that tracking cases grows harder as the outbreak spreads. In an earlier interview on Oct. 6, Stack said vaccination rates of about 90% are not enough to stop measles transmission and that rates must exceed 95% for reliable community protection.

What Boone County families should know

Kentucky Voices for Health, a statewide health advocacy organization, issued guidance urging residents to confirm their immunization status, according to the NKY Tribune.

Children need two doses of MMR vaccine. If a child has had only one, the second can be given as soon as 28 days later. In outbreak areas, an early dose is recommended for infants 6 to 11 months old after discussion with a pediatrician. That early dose does not count toward the two routine doses.

Adults born before 1957 are generally considered immune. Adults born between 1957 and 1968 with no vaccination record should get one dose of MMR. Adults born after 1968 with no record need at least one dose, with a second recommended based on risk.

Residents can look up their vaccination records through the Kentucky Immunization Registry Public Portal, a free service of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Parents and legal guardians can also access records for their minor children.

The Northern Kentucky Health Department's Boone County Health Center, at 7505 Burlington Pike in Florence, offers immunizations and same-day appointments. The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 859-363-2060 to schedule. Kentucky Medicaid is accepted, and fees for uninsured patients are on a sliding scale based on income.

Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body. Anyone who suspects exposure should call a health care provider before visiting a clinic or emergency room.