Measles case count hits 80 in Minnesota, the highest since 1990

Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune on Oct 29, 2026

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Public health officials have confirmed 80 cases of measles in Minnesota so far this year — the highest total in 36 years for the highly infectious but vaccine-preventable disease.

The surge is largely because of an outbreak in Todd County in central Minnesota, which so far has reported 57 cases. The county accounted for all 37 of the measles cases that were newly identified in the past week and reported Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health.

State health officials warned that more infections are likely.

“We strongly advise anyone who is recommended to receive the MMR vaccine and has not been vaccinated to contact their healthcare provider and get vaccinated now,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham.

MMR stands for the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine that is recommended in two doses for children in their preschool years and is considered 97% effective at preventing measles transmission.

Minnesota once had one of the highest measles vaccination rates in the nation, but now is below average. Among children born in 2023 in Minnesota, only 81% have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine by age two.

More than 70% of Minnesota’s confirmed measles cases this year have been in children, and all but two involved people who were unvaccinated, the health department said in its update Thursday.

Todd County has one of the lowest measles vaccination rates in Minnesota, along with Fillmore County — which also reported a smaller cluster of seven confirmed infections this fall.

Vaccination rates in both counties are influenced by the presence of Amish communities where many residents have religious objections to vaccination. However, state and county health officials have declined to say whether the current measles outbreaks are in these communities — and have warned that anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk.

The measles virus can infect others by lingering in droplets in the air, long after being spread by coughing, sneezing or talking. The infection typically causes a head-to-toe rash along with fever and respiratory problems. About one in 10 cases usually requires hospitalization.

No measles deaths have been reported in Minnesota, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three deaths nationwide so far this year.

Skepticism about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic eventually spread to other vaccines. The measles virus exploited the resulting lack of protection, and has caused more than 4,500 confirmed illnesses in the U.S. so far this year. By comparison, the U.S. only reported 86 cases in 2016.

Minnesota’s updated total for 2026 surpasses the 75 cases of measles reported in 2017 that were concentrated among children in Twin Cities child care facilities.

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