All five of West Virginia’s border states have reported cases of measles in 2025, with Kentucky announcing its second case of the year on Friday.
West Virginia saw its first case of measles since 2009 last year, but the case was contained to one undervaccinated individual who traveled internationally.
While the Department of Health advised West Virginia residents of possible measles exposure at a Washington D.C. airport in March, West Virginia has yet to report a case in 2025.
In February, Kentucky saw its first case of measles of the year, but that case was contained.
Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services announced on Friday that a child who was traveling through the state and not a U.S. resident was treated for measles in March. Since the child was treated in the state, the case was counted as a Kentucky incident.
Health experts also said in Friday’s release that there are no other cases or risk of exposure to Kentuckians associated with the March case.
Measures to loosen vaccination requirements passed the West Virginia Senate but narrowly failed in the House of Delegates during the 2025 legislative session.
School entry vaccination is a contentious topic in West Virginia, but health officials told lawmakers who support laws allowing for exemptions that the state’s strict school entry vaccine policy is responsible for West Virginia’s lack of measles outbreaks.
West Virginia allows only medical exemptions to school-entry vaccination.
Upon being sworn in in January, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order to allow for religious exemptions to school entry vaccination in West Virginia.
Though legislation to solidify exemptions in state code failed to pass, West Virginia is abiding by Morrisey’s executive order by allowing parents or guardians to request a religious or moral exemption for compulsory school vaccines.
According to the Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services, the Bureau for Public Health is responsible for approving or denying those applications.
