North Dakota: highest rate of confirmed measles cases in the US

North Dakota reported six new measles cases over the weekend, three in Williams County and three in Grand Forks County. The state’s rate of confirmed cases now is the highest at the national level, beating that of New Mexico. At the end of May, both states had a rate of 3.7 cases per 100,000 residents. Now, North Dakota has a rate of 4.3 cases per 100,000 residents, while New Mexico’s rate remains at 3.7, with just two cases recorded during the weekend. However, the total number of measles cases in North Dakota is 34, well below that of other US states affected by the current national outbreak. Twenty-six are children between the ages of 5 and 19.
The last time North Dakota had the distinction of leading the country in an infectious disease outbreak rate was in 2020 when the state had the worst COVID-19 death rate in the country for 57 days straight. Last fall, the state also had its first whooping cough outbreak since 2012. Dr. Stephen McDonough, a former longtime public health officer for North Dakota, said the state’s low vaccination rates are to blame for the recent outbreaks. In the 1990s, North Dakota was deemed the healthiest state in the US. However, in the last five years, it had three significant infectious disease outbreaks, highlighting serious public health problems. Senator John Hoeven also expressed concern about the spread of measles in North Dakota and encouraged residents to follow the guidance issued by state health authorities.