Todd County at centre of cluster

Minnesota has recorded 80 confirmed measles cases in 2026, the state’s highest yearly count since 1990, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Officials have identified a cluster in central Minnesota’s Todd County, which accounts for 57 of the reported cases.

Children and teenagers have made up much of the caseload. The department said 71% of infections were among people younger than 18.

Vaccination status

All but two of the 80 people who contracted measles had not received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, state officials said. That description does not specify how many were entirely unvaccinated or had received one dose.

The Department of Health has encouraged residents to review their own and their children’s immunization records. Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham advised people who are recommended to receive the MMR vaccine but remain unvaccinated to contact a healthcare provider. She described the vaccine as well-tested, highly effective and capable of providing long-lasting protection.

Risk of severe outcomes

Many people who contract measles recover, but the Minnesota Department of Health warned that the disease can cause death or lifelong complications in some cases. The available reports did not provide figures for hospital admissions, deaths or specific complications among Minnesota’s 2026 cases.

Symptoms can include fever, rash, a dry cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes, according to Mayo Clinic information reported by InForum.