Officials have issued a health alert for a possible measles outbreak at a religious ceremony in Kentucky.
As many as 20,000 people may have been exposed to the highly contagious disease during the 10-day worship event in the city of Wilmore.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health chiefs said an unvaccinated participant tested positive for measles days after last month’s event.
They are now warning all unvaccinated participants or anyone who develops symptoms to self-quarantine for up to 21 days and contact their doctor.
“A large number of people who attended the rally from across Kentucky and from other states and countries may have been exposed,” the CDC told DailyMail.com.
The Asbury Revival is a major church event that draws thousands of people from around the world in February
As many as 20,000 people may have been exposed to measles during a massive all-day prayer meeting in Wilmore, Kentucky, local officials and the CDC have confirmed
The infected person – who has not been identified – attended a 24-hour prayer meeting at Asbury University in Wilmore on February 18.
The Asbury Revival Christian event has gained viral attention on social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok, with some of the videos being viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
Videos on social media show a packed event, with some even praying outside as the interior of the church is full.
The CDC spokesperson added, “An estimated 20,000 people attended the meeting on the days the patient was present.
“The Kentucky Department of Public Health is actively working with CDC and clinicians to determine if there are additional cases.
“Community transmission of measles associated with this event is possible, especially among unvaccinated or unvaccinated individuals.”
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to man. Each infected person can transmit it to up to 18 others.
The highly effective vaccines, which first appeared on the market in 1963, have largely stopped the spread of the virus in developed countries.
Kentucky College Ends 24-Hour Revival Service After Attracting THOUSANDS
The small town of Wilmore, Kentucky, was overwhelmed by the prayer meeting.
But the disease is highly preventable, with an effectiveness rate of 97 percent against measles.
This outbreak may be related to COVID-19 lockdowns and other pandemic measures that have disrupted medical treatment over the past two years.
The World Health Organization warned in July that the pandemic had caused a global “slump” in vaccinations around the world.
Officials now fear that rare but dangerous viruses such as measles could cause a resurgence around the world.
The Jessamine County Health Department — which oversees Wilmore — and Asbury University did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.
“If you may have been exposed on the Asbury University campus and develop symptoms, whether previously vaccinated or not, isolate yourself from others and call your doctor, emergency room or emergency department to get tested.” , Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Health, said in a statement.
“Please do not enter a healthcare facility without prior notification to avoid exposing others.”
The state health agency told DailyMail.com no other cases of measles were linked to the event.
The event started on February 8th and lasted until February 19th. The host was Asbury University, a small private Christian school with about 1,600 students. The prayers are led by students.
Many of these students attended, along with tens of thousands of people who came from nearby communities, from abroad or even overseas.
It is unclear where the infected person came from. Asbury University, like many American schools, requires students to be vaccinated against measles in order to attend.
Wilmore is a small American town with a population of just 6,000. The northern Kentucky city is 60 miles southeast of Louisville and 80 miles south of Cincinnati.
The small town was reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of worshipers and even closed some events early to keep things under control.
In 2022, there were 131 cases of measles in the US
Jessamine County does not require public school students to receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to participate.
State health officials told DailyMail.com that more than 90 percent of Jessamine County students have received it.
The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one injection that prevents three potentially fatal conditions.
It is intended that a child should receive their first vaccination between the ages of 12 and 15 months. The first shot alone is 93 percent effective against infection.
They get a second dose between the ages of four and six, which takes their protection against the virus to 97 percent.
However, many of the infected children did not receive vaccination, leaving them vulnerable to the disease.
The first symptoms of measles often appear a week after infection.
A sick person often gets a high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes.
In the days that follow, the virus causes a rash that can spread to a person’s face, neck, arms, legs and feet.
Unlike many other skin rashes, the spots caused by measles are usually not painful or itchy.
Asbury University, about a half hour outside of Lexington, has fewer than 1,700 students and drew international and national attention after students refused to leave after a Feb. 8 service.
No other contestant at The Asbury Revival has since tested positive for measles, officials told DailyMail.com
One participant at the mass event tested positive for measles. It is unclear who the unvaccinated person was and where they traveled from
An infected person may also experience the development of small white spots. Young children, the immunocompromised and the elderly are most at risk.
Measles first gained notoriety in the United States in the early 1900s and was made a nationally reportable disease by federal officials in 1912.
The virus killed about 6,000 Americans each year before scientists first developed a vaccine in 1963.
Since then, measles rates have declined in the US, as successful vaccination campaigns have all but eliminated it as a regular threat to Americans.
In 2000, US officials declared that the virus had been eradicated from the US population.
However, it sometimes occurs in America. While 90 percent of the population is vaccinated by age two, the remaining unvaccinated individuals are at risk, according to CDC reports.
In 2019, the country hit the largest measles outbreak in decades, with 1,274 confirmed infections in 31 states.
In late 2022, a measles outbreak linked to a local daycare infected 80 children in Columbus, Ohio.
The CDC has since declared the outbreak over.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
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