“And really typically in Minnesota, we see really between zero and four cases of measles a year. So it’s a very rare illness typically in the state. It’s almost always… we call it travel-imported,” Hancock-Allen stated.
The surge in measles cases comes as vaccination rates in Minnesota decline. Hancock-Allen emphasized the importance of the M-M-R vaccine, which provides 93 to 97 percent protection against the disease. She pointed out that nearly all of the recent cases involved unvaccinated individuals.
“Even though measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can be a very dangerous and certainly extremely uncomfortable disease, the good news is that we have a vaccine that protects folks and particularly children against measles,” Hancock-Allen said.
The recommended vaccination schedule includes one dose for children between 12 to 15 months old and a second dose between the ages of four and six.
