Health officials have issued an urgent warning after a case of measles, the world’s most contagious disease, was detected at the Mall of America in Minnesota. On May 24, an unvaccinated child from Dakota County, who had not traveled outside the state, visited the mall’s theme park while infectious. People present at the mall between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on that day may have been exposed to the virus.
The Minnesota Department of Health has advised that symptoms of measles, including a blotchy rash, fever, and cough, could develop in exposed individuals as late as June 14. Unvaccinated individuals are particularly at risk and should monitor for symptoms. Another measles case has been confirmed in an adult from Washington County, Minnesota, though it is unrelated to the Mall of America case. This brings the state’s total confirmed measles cases to four in 2025.
Jessica Hancock-Allen, the infectious disease division director at the Minnesota Department of Health, expressed concern about the case at the Mall of America due to its unknown source. She noted that a case without a known source could indicate undetected community spread. The United States has seen over 1,088 measles cases this year, with outbreaks affecting major airports and resulting in at least three deaths across 33 states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that measles can spread during travel or crowded events, especially among those who are not fully vaccinated. The CDC continues to monitor the situation as the number of cases rises, marking the highest levels since 2019.
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