Pembina County reports 10 new measles cases this week, North Dakota total rises to 21

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Cases of measles in North Dakota nearly doubled this week to 21, including four people who needed to be hospitalized, according to the Department of Health and Human Services measles dashboard.

The 10 new measles cases this week were reported in Pembina County, which increased its case total to 19 since early February. One case was reported the previous week in Walsh County, directly south of Pembina County, and the first measles case in North Dakota was reported on the opposite side of North Dakota in Williams County, involving a person believed to have contracted the disease out of state.

Twenty-six measles exposure sites are listed on the department’s measles dashboard and health officials encourage any unvaccinated person who was present at those sites during the times listed to quarantine for 21 days to prevent the spread of the disease.

Of the state’s 21 cases, seven were contracted by children under age 5, eight in children or young adults between 5 to 19 years old and six cases involved adults. Fifteen of those cases involve people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status and six cases involved people who received at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Molly Howell, director of the HHS Disease Control and Forensic Pathology Section, said people who receive two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% protected against contracting measles.

“People who are vaccinated and exposed to measles are unlikely to develop the disease,” Howell said in a statement.

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.

“MMR vaccination is critical to preventing the spread of measles in the community, and anyone who is eligible and not yet vaccinated is encouraged to contact a trusted health care provider,” she said.

People who suspect they may have contracted measles should contact a health care provider before seeking treatment at a medical clinic to ensure special precautions can be taken to prevent transmission to others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 154 new measles cases this week across 27 states, bringing the nationwide total to 1,136 cases in 2026. The weekly new case total more than doubled from the previous week when 72 new cases were reported.

The federal 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.