25 Confirmed Measles Cases From 2 Minnesota Outbreaks
St. Paul, MN (MinnesotaNow) - The Minnesota Department of Health is responding to two measles outbreaks.
Fillmore and Todd Counties Report Measles Outbreaks
A statement issued by the agency Thursday says the first measles cluster was identified in Fillmore County in mid-February. There have been six confirmed infections in that outbreak.
The second outbreak is in Todd County in central Minnesota. The health department says there have been 19 confirmed cases associated with that cluster.
All Confirmed Cases in Both Outbreaks Involve Unvaccinated People
The statement indicates that all individuals infected with measles in both outbreaks were unvaccinated. It also says that, due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, the number of cases will very likely grow in the days and weeks ahead.
Minnesota Has Reported 42 Measles Cases This Year
There have now been 42 confirmed measles cases in Minnesota this year. Olmsted County experienced a measles cluster last October that sickened three people.
State Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated Against Measles
The Minnesota Department of Health is urging anyone who has not been vaccinated against measles to get vaccinated.
“After being eliminated in the U.S. for decades, measles is once again circulating within our country. There have been more than 4,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. this year. In our highly mobile society, that means exposure can occur in any community, in any county. There are pockets of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people across Minnesota, and anyone who isn't vaccinated against measles is at risk — especially right now,” the Minnesota Department of Health said.
More information about measles and the measles vaccine is available on the Minnesota Department of Health website.