Confirmed Measles Cases in North Dakota Rise With Cases in Grand Forks County

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(BY: MICHAEL ACHTERLING. North Dakota Monitor) – Confirmed cases of measles in North Dakota have increased after the Department of Health and Human Services reported two new cases in Grand Forks County, now the third county to be affected.

The exposures in Grand Forks County are linked to international travel, according to the department.

Williams County in western North Dakota has 13 cases and Cass County in eastern North Dakota has six confirmed cases, including one person who was hospitalized. All of the North Dakota cases involve people who were unvaccinated, the department said.

Molly Howell, immunization director for HHS, said she is “cautiously optimistic” about the slow spread of the disease in the state that was first confirmed May 2. But she reiterated that it takes two full incubation periods, or 42 days, without any new cases to declare an outbreak over.

“We’re definitely a long ways from that,” Howell said.