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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Measles Cases Reach 36-Year High as Anoka County Reports Six Infections and Health Officials Urge Vaccination
The Minnesota Department of Health reports 80 confirmed cases in 2026, including 57 in Todd County and six in Anoka County. Children account for most infections as public health officials warn that declining vaccination rates leave communities vulnerable.
SAINT PAUL, MN (November 5, 2026).
Minnesota is experiencing its highest annual measles case count in 36 years, with 80 confirmed infections reported in 2026, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The outbreak has been concentrated in central Minnesota, particularly Todd County, but confirmed cases have also been recorded in Anoka, Hennepin, Dakota, Scott, Wright, Polk and Fillmore counties.
For communities in the northwest Twin Cities, the state data provide a direct local connection to a public-health concern that has received substantial attention elsewhere in Minnesota.
Anoka County has recorded six measles cases this year, according to the department's county-level surveillance figures.
Hennepin County has reported four.
The numbers demonstrate that the disease is not confined to a single rural community, even though the largest concentration of infections has occurred outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
State health officials are urging residents to review their vaccination records and ensure that children and adults who are eligible for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have received the recommended doses.
Minnesota Reports Highest Annual Total Since 1990
The Minnesota Department of Health announced October 29 that the state had reached 80 measles cases, surpassing every annual total recorded since 1990.
The figure exceeds the 75 cases recorded in 2017 and the 70 cases reported in 2024.
Minnesota reported 26 cases in 2025.
The department's current surveillance table continues to list 80 cases, although officials caution that the data are preliminary and subject to change.
The geographic distribution reveals significant differences between counties.
Todd County accounts for 57 of the 80 cases, representing more than two-thirds of the statewide total.
Fillmore and Anoka counties have each reported six cases.
Hennepin County has recorded four, Wright County three, Polk County two, and Dakota and Scott counties one each.
The department also reports that 63 cases have been identified since mid-September in Todd and Fillmore counties.
These figures reflect cases recorded during 2026, not necessarily infections acquired during the past week.
That distinction matters when interpreting county-level numbers.
Why Measles Remains a Serious Public-Health Concern
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through the air.
An infected person can transmit the virus through breathing, coughing, sneezing or talking.
The virus can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an enclosed space.
Symptoms commonly begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash.
Although many patients recover, measles can cause pneumonia, neurological complications and, in severe cases, death.
Young children, pregnant people and individuals with weakened immune systems can face particularly serious consequences.
Because measles spreads so efficiently, outbreaks can develop quickly in communities where vaccination coverage is low.
Public-health officials generally recommend vaccination coverage of approximately 95% to prevent sustained transmission.
Children Account for Most Minnesota Cases
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, approximately 71% of the state's 2026 measles cases have involved children younger than 18.
The department also reports that all but two of the 80 cases occurred among people who had not received two doses of the MMR vaccine.
These findings underscore the importance of routine childhood immunization.
The MMR vaccine has been used in the United States for decades.
Two doses provide approximately 97% protection against measles.
Health officials emphasize that the vaccine is well studied and that serious adverse reactions are rare.
The department recommends that residents who are uncertain about their vaccination history contact their healthcare provider or review their immunization records.
Todd County Outbreak Reveals Challenges in Vaccine Confidence
Todd County has experienced the largest concentration of infections.
Public-health officials there have identified declining vaccination coverage and parental uncertainty about immunization as significant concerns.
MPR News reported that approximately 61% of Todd County children born in 2023 had received at least one MMR dose, compared with 81% statewide.
Those rates fall below the coverage generally considered necessary to prevent widespread measles transmission.
Local health officials have described the difficulty of responding to an outbreak when families are hesitant to vaccinate or distrust government health recommendations.
Some residents have expressed concerns about vaccine safety, while others have questioned whether measles presents a substantial danger.
Healthcare professionals have responded by explaining the risks of infection, reviewing vaccination evidence and encouraging families to seek information from qualified medical providers.
The challenge extends beyond distributing medical information.
Public-health outreach must also address questions of trust, accessibility and communication.
Community Trust and the Risk of Stigmatization
Minnesota's measles outbreak has also raised questions about how health agencies communicate with communities whose members may have differing experiences with healthcare institutions.
Todd County includes Amish, Mennonite, Latino and Haitian residents, among other populations.
Public-health officials have cautioned against assigning responsibility for the outbreak to any particular cultural, religious or immigrant community without supporting evidence.
That caution is important.
Vaccination decisions are influenced by numerous factors, including access to healthcare, confidence in medical institutions, individual experiences and the availability of reliable information.
Effective prevention requires accurate communication without stigmatizing residents.
Community organizations, healthcare providers, schools and public-health departments can all play roles in helping families understand the disease and available protection.
What the Numbers Mean for Anoka County
Anoka County's six reported infections represent a much smaller number than the outbreak in Todd County.
Nevertheless, the presence of confirmed cases provides a reason for residents to remain informed.
Coon Rapids, Blaine, Anoka, Andover, Fridley, Columbia Heights and other communities are connected through schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities and regional travel.
Measles can spread through ordinary contact in shared indoor spaces when susceptible individuals are exposed.
The county-level figure does not establish that a new outbreak is occurring in any particular Anoka County city.
It also does not identify specific schools, neighborhoods or businesses as exposure locations.
Residents should therefore avoid drawing conclusions about individual communities or institutions without an official public-health notice.
The appropriate response is to follow verified health guidance and review vaccination status.
Where Residents Can Obtain Information
The Minnesota Department of Health provides information about measles symptoms, vaccination recommendations, immunization records and current case counts.
Residents can also contact their regular healthcare provider, local public-health department or other qualified vaccination provider.
People who suspect they have measles should contact a healthcare provider before arriving at a clinic or emergency department, allowing staff to take precautions that reduce the risk of exposing other patients.
The department continues monitoring infections and updating its surveillance information.
THE TAKEAWAY | Prevention Depends on Accurate Information and Community Confidence
Minnesota's 80 confirmed measles cases represent the state's highest annual total in 36 years.
Todd County accounts for the majority, but the disease has also appeared in Anoka County and other parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The figures highlight the continuing importance of vaccination, early recognition of symptoms and communication between public-health officials and residents.
For Minnesota communities, preventing further spread will require both effective medical guidance and the trust necessary for families to act on that guidance.
The Minnesota Department of Health's reported case totals remain preliminary and may change as surveillance continues.
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