Measles Case Reported In South Dakota After International Travel

South Dakota has become the 33rd state to record a case of measles in 2025.

Infection Details

The Department of Health is reporting that an adult in Meade County (County Seat: Sturgis) developed a measles infection after traveling internationally. The measles patient visited several public locations, and anyone who was in the same settings is being asked to self-monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days.

Exposure Possibilities

Community members may have been exposed to measles during the following times and locations:

• May 28 - 7:15 AM to 10:00 AM MT - Rapid City Medical Center Urgent Care
• May 29 - 9:45 AM to 3:00 PM MT - Monument Health Sturgis Urgent Care

Get our free mobile app

Check For Symptoms

Measles symptoms appear in two stages:

1. Runny nose, cough, rising fever, eyes red and sensitive to light
2. Temperature of 103-105°F, red blotchy rash lasting for four to seven days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads down to the trunk and out to the arms and legs.

Vaccine Rates Plummeting

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, childhood vaccination rates against measles, mumps, and rubella have been declining in much of the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the 2,066 counties in 33 states that researchers analyzed, 78% of them reported a decline in vaccination rates. Researchers found that the county-level mean vaccination rate decreased from nearly 94% before the pandemic to about 91% after the pandemic—falling well below the threshold of about 95% considered by public-health experts to be the minimum for herd immunity against measles.

READ MORE: Bat Tests Positive for Rabies at Sioux Falls Zoo

Get More Information

Learn more about measles on the Department of Health website, where you can find information in the form of fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and a webinar for healthcare providers.