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Public health officials in Olmsted County, home to Rochester, have confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child residing in the county in southeastern Minnesota.

Olmsted County Public Health Services said the child is under the age of five, had recently traveled internationally and is exhibiting symptoms. 

Measles is a highly contagious rash illness and it is a serious disease that can require hospitalization and can even lead to death. Measles spreads easily by coughing, sneezing or even being in the same room with someone who has measles. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 

20 cases of measles statewide so far this year

, as of data released Oct. 9. Last year, there were more cases — 70 in total.

As MPR News has reported during a previous outbreak, 

 high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a full body rash. The measles rash usually appears two to three days after the fever begins and typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body. The disease can be especially dangerous for babies and young children.

There is no specific treatment for measles, and the virus can lead to severe health problems, including pneumonia, encephalitis, brain damage, pregnancy complications and death. 

Olmsted’s public health department said it is working with the Minnesota Department of Health to contact those who may have been exposed to the infected child. Unvaccinated people, or people who have not had measles, are most at risk and should watch for symptoms of measles.

Health officials emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to protect against measles and prevent the spread of the virus.

The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is typically administered in two doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the first dose of the vaccine be given to babies at 12 to 15 months of age and it may be given in combination with other vaccines. 

The CDC recommends the second MMR dose be given to children between 4 and 6 years old

The vaccine has been in use for over five decades and is widely considered to be 

 and effective by the World Health Organization and the CDC, and it 

. But a recent wave of falsehoods and misinformation about the MMR and other vaccines, often spread via social media, has led some parents to skip vaccinating their children. The New England Journal of Medicine published a 

 showing that recent measles outbreaks are fueled by declining vaccination rates.

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Public health officials in Olmsted County confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child living in the Rochester area in southeastern Minnesota. It is the 20th confirmed measles case in the state so far this year. 

The Olmsted County Public Health Services building in Rochester, Minnesota.

New measles case confirmed in Rochester area, bringing state total to at least 20 in 2025

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