(From Todd Epp, Northern Plains News)
South Dakota has not reported any new measles cases in 2025, even as outbreaks grow in nearby states and across the country, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.
The last measles case in South Dakota was in July 2024. The department said a Pennington County adult tested positive after international travel. That was the first state case since a 2015 outbreak in the Mitchell area, which involved 13 people.
Nationally, measles cases are rising fast. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 800 cases in 25 states as of mid-April. That is already more than double the number from all of 2024 and the highest total since 2019. The CDC said most cases are linked to outbreaks.
Regional spread raises concern
Minnesota has reported two measles cases so far in 2025, after seeing 70 cases in 2024, the state’s second-highest total in 15 years, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The most recent case involved an infant diagnosed abroad and not infectious after returning to Minnesota. Health officials there say low vaccination rates are a major concern.
Montana confirmed five measles cases in Gallatin County in April, its first since 1990, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. All cases involved people who had traveled outside Montana, and those infected were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Iowa and North Dakota have not reported any measles cases in 2025. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa’s measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination rate for children turning two was 84 percent in 2024, below the 95 percent needed to prevent outbreaks. North Dakota health officials warn that low immunization rates leave the state vulnerable if measles is introduced.
Nebraska has not reported any cases this year, but health officials are preparing for a possible outbreak as national numbers rise. According to the Nebraska Panhandle Public Health District, Nebraska’s MMR vaccination rate is 93.5 percent, below the herd immunity threshold
.
Vaccination rates slipping
In South Dakota, the MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners dropped from 96.8 percent in 2009–2010 to 92.5 percent in 2022–2023, the Department of Health said. That is below the 95 percent level experts say is needed for herd immunity.
“Maintaining the highest level of immunization against measles is the best preventive measure,” said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist, in July 2024, after the state’s most recent case.
South Dakota requires two doses of the MMR vaccine for school entry, but allows exemptions for medical or religious reasons. The state’s exemption rate is low, but health officials say even small drops in coverage can open the door to outbreaks.
Why it matters
The CDC says measles is highly contagious and can cause serious problems, especially in children and people with weak immune systems. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and rash.
Health officials urge South Dakotans to check their vaccination records and talk to their health care providers if they have questions. The Department of Health continues to monitor the situation as measles spreads in the region.
