30 Measles Cases and Counting in Minnesota

Health officials in Minnesota today announced they are urging families to ensure they are up to date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the four-month measles outbreak continues to impact the Twin Cities metro area.  

Since May 2024, 30 cases of measles have been reported in Minnesota. So far, the outbreak is mainly affecting unvaccinated children in the Somali community in Minnesota.

In 2023, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) did not report a local measles case.

MDH says most measles cases in Minnesota result from people traveling to or from countries where measles is common and who become infectious with measles after arriving in Minnesota.

“Measles is currently circulating, and infections can be severe,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist and medical director at the MDH, in a press release on August 28, 2024.

“I urge all parents to vaccinate their children because we know that vaccination offers the best protection.”

In Minnesota, the Vaccines for Children program (MnVFC) provides Free or Low-cost Vaccines for Children who are uninsured, enrolled in a Minnesota health care program like Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

Over 750 healthcare providers, including pharmacists, are enrolled in MnVFC, and approximately half of Minnesotan children are eligible.  

Additionally, children who do not have health insurance to cover vaccines can also get vaccinated through local public health departments. Check your county government website to find a local public health immunization clinic.

Minnesota is not the only state reporting a measles outbreak in 2024. On August 22, 2024, the U.S. CDC reported 227 measles cases in 29 jurisdictions, led by Chicago, Illinois.