Twin Cities Adds Two to Measles Outbreak Total

During the first six weeks of 2024, various cities in the United States have reported measles cases, mainly related to unvaccinated international travelers.

On February 13, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Public Health (MDH) confirmed two measles cases had been reported this year. CBS News revealed that the first case was found in the Twin Cities metro area, and the second occurred in an unvaccinated sibling. 

MDH says measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, but recent data indicates Minnesota is trailing the national vaccination rate.

According to MDH data, about 80% of young children were vaccinated with a measles vaccine as of November 2023. MDH reported (0) measles cases in 2023, but 22 in 2022.

Nationally, the U.S. CDC has reported a total of 9 measles cases in four jurisdictions in 2024.

Internationally, the CDC says over the past year, Yemen (18,464), Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and India have reported the most measles cases. In 2023, over 534,000 suspected measles cases were reported in 169 jurisdictions.

To alert travelers, the CDC maintains a global Watch-Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Health Notice, that identifies measles outbreaks in 47 countries.