Rep. Omar disappointed state money to fight measles in Somali-American community denied

The number of Minnesota children infected with measles continues to rise with more than 30 known cases since the outbreak began in Hennepin County last month.

Nearly every child who's contracted measles is Somali-American, a community in which less than half of children under 2 are vaccinated.

On Monday, state Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced an emergency bill to secure $500,000 to help curb the outbreak. That effort failed in the house, in part because those funds wouldn't be available for weeks.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Omar.

Click on the audio player above to hear their conversation.