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In Todd County, vaccine skepticism fuels measles surge
MPR News • • general
Key Points:
- Minnesota is experiencing its highest number of measles cases in 36 years, with 80 cases reported in 2026, primarily concentrated in Todd County, where vaccination rates are significantly below the state average.
- Vaccine hesitancy in the region is fueled by distrust of government, misinformation, and concerns over vaccine safety, exacerbated by recent political actions and anti-vaccine sentiments following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Todd County's vaccination rate for the MMR vaccine is 61%, well below the 95% threshold recommended to prevent outbreaks, with nearly 15% of kindergartners in some districts having nonmedical exemptions.
- The outbreak affects diverse communities, including Amish populations who may decline vaccines for religious or cultural reasons, though health officials caution against attributing low vaccination rates to any single group.
- Health professionals emphasize the seriousness of measles and its potential complications, especially for unvaccinated individuals, and are actively working to educate the public and contain the outbreak amid ongoing community transmission.
