Minnesota measles cases rise to 21 as U.S. health chief urges vaccination
Minnesota has recorded 21 measles cases this year after a newly identified Mayo Clinic–associated case in Olmsted County, part of a surge state health officials link to declining routine childhood vaccination rates. A top U.S. health official has urged Americans to “take the vaccine,” warning measles is highly contagious, can resurge quickly in undervaccinated communities, and urging parents to get children caught up on MMR shots as national cases rise.
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota’s measles total for 2025 has risen to 21 cases.
- MDH reported two additional measles cases on Oct. 13, 2025, since the previous statewide/metro update.
- A newly identified Mayo Clinic–associated case in Olmsted County accounted for the latest increase that brought the state total to 21.
- Reporting and officials link the surge to declines in routine childhood vaccination rates, which increase transmission risk and enable growing clusters.
- A top U.S. health official made a national plea — “Take the vaccine” — warning that measles is a serious, highly contagious disease and urging parents to get children caught up on MMR shots.
- The national rise in measles cases reinforces that Minnesota’s 21 cases are part of a broader pattern driven by falling routine immunization.
📊 Relevant Data
Somali-Minnesotan children have a measles vaccination rate of approximately 24% by age two, compared to higher rates statewide.
Fear in Minnesota's Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination — MPR News
By age six, 86% of Somali children in Minnesota receive at least one measles vaccine dose, compared to 89% statewide.
Fear in Minnesota's Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination — MPR News
The 2025 measles outbreak in Minnesota is linked to low vaccination rates in the Somali community.
Fear in Minnesota's Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination — MPR News
The Somali population in Minnesota is approximately 108,000, representing about 2% of the state's total population of around 5.7 million.
Most Somali people in America and Minnesota are citizens — Minnesota Reformer
Somali immigration to Minnesota was primarily driven by refugee resettlement following the Somali civil war in the 1990s, with many arriving directly from refugee camps under U.S. refugee programs.
Immigration in MN Africa — Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- A top U.S. health official publicly urged Americans to 'take the vaccine' in a national measles vaccination appeal, warning that growing clusters are tied to falling childhood immunization rates.
- The official framed measles as a serious, highly contagious disease that can resurge quickly in undervaccinated communities, and explicitly asked parents to get children caught up on MMR shots.
- The appeal comes as national measles case counts rise, reinforcing Minnesota’s earlier warning that its own 21 cases in 2025 are part of a broader pattern driven by declining routine vaccination.
- Minnesota’s measles total for 2025 has increased to 21 cases.
- A newly identified case associated with Mayo (Rochester/Olmsted County context) accounts for the latest increase.
- MDH reported two additional measles cases on Oct. 13, 2025, since the previous statewide/metro update.
- The article ties the surge to declines in routine childhood vaccination rates, adding context to transmission risk.
- The new cases raise the year-to-date total above the previously reported 18 cases (likely 20 total for 2025).