Hennepin County infant contracts measles
State health officials say others may have been exposed to measles from a 10-month-old child in Hennepin County.
Officials said the child has tested positive for the first case of measles that cannot be traced to foreign travel since 2001.
The child was born in the U.S. and was not vaccinated because measles vaccinations are usually given starting at 1 year.
Dr. Ruth Lynfield is the state epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. She said measles cases are increasing around the country.
"This year we have seen the highest number of cases in ten years. The CDC is reporting to date, including our case, 133 cases occuring in 16 states," Lynfield said.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Its symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes followed by a rash.
She said about one in a thousand cases of measles includes a dangerous inflammation of the brain.
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