Minnesota: Measles outbreak officially ended, Pertussis cases top 2,000

Measles

The measles outbreak in Minnesota, which occurred from May to Sept., has officially ended with 52 reported cases, the Minnesota Department of Health announced.

Officials remind measles remains a threat as new travel-related cases continue to emerge. There is the risk of a new outbreak each time an unvaccinated person returns to Minnesota with measles.

In addition to the outbreak, there have been six travel-related cases of measles which led to the infection of an additional 10 people. Between the outbreak and the additional cases of measles, Minnesota has had 70 cases of measles cases in 2024-11 imported, 57 exposed in the US and 2 classified as other (Pending classification, exposure data unknown, or case is lost to follow-up).

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Pertussis

Pertussis, or whooping cough cases are still rising across Minnesota. As of December 5, 2,324 total confirmed/probable cases have been reported.

It is affecting people of all ages with a particular impact on children, adolescents and young adults.

• The median age of those affected is 14 years of age, ranging from 1 month to 92 years.

• Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and, in rare cases, death, particularly if they are too young to be vaccinated.

It is also important to ensure people are up to date on their vaccinations. While vaccine protection can wane over time, those vaccinated typically experience milder symptoms and fewer complications.

• There are two pertussis containing vaccines available: DTaP (for children <7 years old) and Tdap (for adolescents and adults).

• Tdap can be given as a booster dose every 10 years and can be used for wound management.

• Tdap is recommended for each pregnancy and can be given at any time during the pregnancy during a community outbreak. Maternal vaccination provides early protection for the newborn through passive transfer of maternal antibodies.