MN records 59 weekly measles cases, 2026 hits record high

The Minnesota Department of Health recorded 59 new cases of measles during the most recent week of data released Nov. 5, marking the most weekly cases in 2026.

In a statement Thursday, the department noted almost all of the cases were among people who were unvaccinated. Most cases were connected to an existing outbreak in Todd County.

This comes after the department announced in late October that measles cases had reached their highest yearly total since 1990.

At the time of the announcement, the total for 2026 was 80 cases.

As of Nov. 5, the statewide total now sits at 139.

Elizabeth Parilla manages the department's vaccine-preventable diseases section. She said two factors have coincided with the outbreaks.

First, more people are getting infected through domestic travel rather than going abroad.

"So, travel around the United States to weddings and funerals and other events that are similar to that," Parilla said.

Second, Parilla said health officials have seen small decreases in immunization coverage in Minnesota, which can lead to outbreaks in a heavily contagious disease like measles.

"It really finds the people who aren't immunized and is able to spread really quickly, even if most people are immunized," she said.

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A vast majority of cases have been reported in Todd County. According to Department of Health Data, more than 8 in 10 of this year’s cases have been concentrated there.

Parilla said a lower immunization rate did play a role in the outbreak.

"In those communities, if measles gets introduced, we see very significant spread," Parilla said, and that's what we're seeing right now in Todd County."

When an outbreak hits, Parilla said the department works with local healthcare and public health organizations to let people know if they've been exposed to the virus.

In its Thursday statement, the department also noted it had received more measles vaccines from the federal government.

"The good news is most people are immunized with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine," Parilla said. "If you've had two doses of MMR, you have 97% protection from measles, which is amazing. It's just a very good, well-tested, effective vaccine."

The department updates measles data weekly on Thursdays on its website.