Minnesota Records 80 Measles Cases, Most in 36 Years

A measles outbreak in Fillmore and Todd counties has driven the state's total to its highest level since the 1990 season.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in COVID-19

Minnesota Records 80 Measles Cases, Most in 36 Years

Live Poll

Have you checked your family's vaccination status this year?

Minnesota has recorded 80 measles cases, its largest total in 36 years, with 63 of those cases tied to an outbreak in Fillmore and Todd counties since mid-September. No measles cases have been reported in neighboring Martin County.

Why it matters

Measles spreads easily through breathing and can remain infectious in a room for up to two hours, and nine out of 10 susceptible people exposed to the virus contract it. Declining vaccination rates, partly linked to public skepticism stemming from COVID, raise the stakes for communities with lower coverage.

Minnesota's 80 measles cases represent the highest total in 36 years, with 63 concentrated in Fillmore and Todd counties, while Martin County's MMR vaccination rate of 75 percent falls short of the 95 percent target. The source does not report how the outbreak originated or whether case counts will continue to rise.

The players

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is the federal agency that sets national vaccination schedule recommendations, including the MMR dose timing cited in this outbreak response.

The details

Fillmore and Todd counties account for 63 of the state's 80 measles cases, with the outbreak beginning in mid-September. Health officials recommend the first MMR dose at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years, and note that funding for vaccination programs has been reduced by recent federal cuts.

Mid-September: Fillmore and Todd county measles outbreak began.
October: Respiratory virus hospitalizations began rising in Greater Minnesota.
Last year, around Christmas: Respiratory virus hospitalizations peaked at 26 per 100,000 people.

Big Picture

Minnesota's current measles total is the highest since the state's previous record 36 years ago, a reminder of how quickly vaccine-preventable disease can return when coverage slips. The outbreak's concentration in Fillmore and Todd counties underscores how local vaccination gaps shape statewide outcomes.

Parents and caregivers should confirm that children have received both MMR doses on schedule, with the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years. Residents in Martin County and surrounding areas should be aware that vaccination coverage there sits at 75 percent.

The takeaway

Vaccination coverage is the main factor separating communities that contain outbreaks from those that see them spread. Checking that household vaccines are up to date is the most direct step readers can take.