June 5, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported on June 2 that measles has reached the Twin Cities metro area.
The first case is a Washington County adult whose vaccination status is unverified. The individual was exposed during domestic air travel outside of Minnesota. The second case is an unvaccinated child from Dakota County who has not traveled outside of Minnesota in the last month and had no known exposures.
“Anytime we confirm a case of measles unrelated to travel that has no known source it is worrying,” said Jessica Hancock-Allen, infectious disease division director at MDH. “This is because it could be a sign that measles is spreading in the community undetected by public health and healthcare systems. It is uncertain where the child was exposed and whether others may have been exposed.”
According to disease investigators, the child was infectious while at the theme park inside Mall of America (MOA) on May 24. Persons who were at MOA on May 24 between 5 and 9 p.m. may have been exposed and should be aware of any symptoms that develop between May 31 and June 14. Unvaccinated persons, or persons who have not had measles, are most at risk and should watch for symptoms of measles.
“Vaccines are the safest and most effective way to protect children from dangerous infectious diseases like measles,” said MMA President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA. “Vaccinating a child also protects other children with whom they interact. To protect against measles, about 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated.”
MDH encourages people to check their immunization records to confirm that they and their children have received the MMR vaccine. Minnesotans can also go to Find My Immunization Record. Most people born before 1957 have had measles disease and are considered immune.
Additional information about measles can be found on the MDH Measles website.
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A physician and Olympian will give an inspirational address as part of this year's Empowering Physicians event on Friday, September 25, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
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