photo/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota now has 11 measles cases, including two that required people to be hospitalized, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday.
Pembina County in northeast North Dakota added four confirmed cases this week, bringing the county’s total to nine, according to the department’s measles dashboard. One new case was reported in neighboring Walsh County involving a person who had traveled to Pembina County, the department said.
The department lists 26 eastern North Dakota sites where people may have been exposed to measles between Jan. 30 and Feb. 11.
Dr. Marc Nielsen, medical director of primary care at Altru Health System in Grand Forks, said having that many exposure sites with an extremely contagious disease like measles is “tremendously concerning.”
“Nine out of 10 potential contacts can come down with the illness,” Nielsen said. “It’s that contagious. It puts a lot of people at risk.”
Ashley Krone, disease prevention team leader for Grand Forks Public Health, said people in eastern North Dakota should check the exposure site list. Those who are not vaccinated who were possibly exposed should stay home for 21 days to prevent further spread of the disease, she said.
“Even if we don’t have a case in the county at this time, these exposure locations are just a reminder that measles are just a car ride away and can arrive at any time,” Krone said.
The first North Dakota measles case in 2026 was reported in Williams County and was believed to have been contracted due to out-of-state travel. Of the 11 measles cases this year, nine involve people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Nielsen said the measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing the disease, with a 93% immunization rate after one dose and a 97% rate after two doses.
Information about where to get a vaccination is available through the state’s immunization locator. Grand Forks Public Health also operates a vaccine information and location website to connect residents to vaccines with credible information about the immunizations, Krone said.
Unvaccinated people or those who are at higher risk should avoid large public gatherings in the affected areas of the state, Nielsen said. Those vaccinated against measles do not need to alter their lifestyles, he said.
People who believe they contracted measles should call ahead before arriving at a clinic to protect people who may be in the waiting room and hospital staff, Nielsen said. Altru has a 24/7 nurse advice line at 701-780-6358.
Measles symptoms often include fever, cough, runny nose and eye irritation, followed by a widespread rash, according to the department. People can transmit the disease for up to four days before a rash develops, according to HHS.
Of the 11 North Dakota cases, four involve children under 5; one is between ages 5 and 19; and six are adults 20 or older.
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported 72 additional measles cases this week, increasing the nation’s case total to 982 across 26 states this year. The agency reported 2,281 cases in 2025 across 44 states.
North Dakota last year reported 36 measles cases across Williams, Grand Forks, Cass and Burke counties.
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