Measles cases rise in Todd County amid vaccine skepticism

Measles, a highly contagious disease once declared eliminated from the United States, is spreading again in parts of Minnesota.

Minnesota is seeing its highest number of measles cases in 36 years, with 80 cases reported so far in 2026.

The largest cluster is Todd County in central Minnesota, where 57 cases have been identified since mid-September. Health officials attribute the outbreak to a below-average vaccination rate, which has fallen further in recent years.

In Bertha, about 50 miles west of Brainerd, parents taking their children to a school Halloween party last weekend shed light on why that’s the case.

Brandy and Dustin Elgin vaccinated their oldest child when he was a baby. But they said their second child broke out in hives after his injections.

“They couldn’t really give us an answer as to why he was so sick,” Brandy Elgin said. “After that we kind of stopped, and he’s been fine ever since.”

Recent cases of measles have not changed their minds, they say.

“After the whole COVID fiasco – and it was all nonsense – it’s hard to trust what they say,” added Dustin Elgin.

Tim Zastrow, of nearby Browerville, said he isn’t worried about his children, ages 6 and 5, getting measles because they are vaccinated. But he said he knows parents who question the safety of vaccines.

“They think there’s something there. You know what the world is like today,” Zastrow said. “But the measles vaccine has been around forever, and I would rather my kids be safe than sorry.”

Todd County lags state average in vaccination rates

Distrust of the government, fears about vaccine safety and limited experience with a disease that was virtually nonexistent 20 years ago are leading more parents to refuse their children’s routine immunizations, authorities say.

“We are not surprised that measles has arrived in Todd County,” said Katherine Mackedanz, the county’s community health officer. “Since COVID, we’ve seen a lot of anti-vaccine sentiment, a lot of hesitancy in families.”

Only 61 percent of Todd County children born in 2023 have received at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, compared to 81 percent statewide. Public health officials generally recommend vaccination rates of at least 95 percent to prevent measles outbreaks.

“What people need to understand is how contagious this virus is,” Mackedanz said. “This is becoming something that seems difficult to stop in a time when vaccination rates are low.”

The MMR vaccine has been used in the United States since 1971. Two doses are about 97 percent effective against measles.

Most people do not experience any side effects from the vaccine, but temporary pain, fever, or a mild rash may occur. Serious reactions are rare.

Still, Mackedenz said Todd County has seen an increase in parents requesting that their children be exempt from school vaccination requirements because of their beliefs.

Nearly 15 percent of current kindergarten students in the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School District in Todd County have non-medical exemptions for the MMR vaccine, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Some public health officials worry that the Trump administration’s policies have helped fuel anti-vaccine sentiments and a recent national measles surge.

In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for an overhaul of childhood vaccine recommendations, including dividing the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into individual doses administered during separate doctor visits.

Administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have also promoted debunked claims linking vaccines to autism.

The measles virus is spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. It can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours. An infected person can spread the virus for several days before symptoms appear.

Most Americans under 50 have never been exposed to measles and therefore have no natural immunity, Mackedanz said. And because it’s unfamiliar, they may not view it as a serious threat, she said.

“People don’t realize the impact infectious diseases can have on our communities,” Mackedanz said, particularly on young children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

Role of immigrants and religious communities

The rolling farmlands of Todd County are home to a large Amish population. Their beliefs call on their members to live together in close-knit communities and reject many modern technologies.

Although their religion does not strictly prohibit vaccines, some Amish families refuse routine childhood vaccinations, perhaps due to fear of side effects, a preference for natural remedies, or skepticism of government mandates.

But health officials caution against attributing the county’s low vaccination rates to any one group. They have not confirmed whether Amish communities are affected by the outbreak.

Officials also caution against blaming Latino and Haitian residents, who contribute to Long Prairie’s increasingly diverse population.

Elizabeth Quillo is co-founder of the WAVE Saludos Welcome Center, which helps newcomers access services. She said some immigrants have difficulty obtaining vaccination certificates from their home countries, but most are receptive to the idea of ​​receiving the necessary shots.

“People have a lot of trust in the medical professions and, for the most part, they are willing to do what doctors recommend,” Quillo said.

But distrust of government is common among Todd County’s population overall, Mackedanz said. She also believes misinformation on social media contributes to vaccine hesitancy.

“Unfortunately, health care providers are not always the first place to get information about vaccines or public health,” she said.

“This should never have happened”

At CentraCare Health Clinic in Long Prairie, Dr. Junita Jose works to answer parents’ questions about vaccines while learning more about a disease she never expected.

“This should never have happened,” José said. “I think it is in a very privileged place that we were able to benefit from such protection. Today, we unfortunately make choices that take us back in time.”

Jose and his colleagues are taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and protect other at-risk patients. They free up space in the clinic when a patient who may have measles arrives.

José watches for symptoms, including fever, cough, red or watery eyes, runny nose, and a telltale rash that starts at the hairline and spreads throughout the body.

She also opposes misinformation, including false claims that the MMR vaccine contains mercury or causes autism. And some people underestimate the illness, thinking it’s just a childhood cold or flu, Jose said.

While that may be true for most people, she said, measles can cause serious complications, especially in those who are not vaccinated, either by choice or because they cannot get vaccinated due to age, pregnancy or a weakened immune system.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles require hospitalization. Up to 1 in 20 children with measles will develop pneumonia, the most common cause of measles death in young children.

“These families end up having to pay the price,” José said. “And not just these families, the communities in which they live. »

As a parent, she faces risks. Her youngest child is just 8 months old – too young for the first routine measles vaccine, which is usually given between 12 and 15 months. José plans to give her an early dose of the measles vaccine, which may be recommended for infants 6 to 11 months old in the event of an outbreak.

For now, she’s keeping him from daycare to limit his exposure, as health officials expect the virus to continue circulating in Todd County for weeks or months.

“I haven’t seen the worst-case measles scenario, but I don’t want to see it,” Jose said. “I’ve read a lot about it. I’ve seen pictures. But in real life, I’m not looking forward to seeing it.”