SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – For the first time in 5 years, there have been over 1,000 cases of identified measles, and this coincides with a continually dropping rate of MMR vaccinations, leading medical experts to remind those at home to pull out those vaccination records.

South Dakota’s Department of Health announced on Monday the first case of measles in the state in 2025. The patient is a Meade County man who traveled internationally.

The measles patient visited several public locations, and persons who were in the same settings are asked to self-monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days.

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

  • Rapid City Medical Center Urgent Care waiting room (2820 Mt Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD)
    • May 28, 2025, from 7:15 am to 10 am MT
  • Monument Health Sturgis Urgent Care waiting room (2140 Junction Ave, Sturgis, SD)
    • May 29, 2025, from 9:45 am to 3 pm MT

State epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says Measles is one of the most communicable diseases out there.

“Just being in some of that airspace where measles cases have been, you can still have some of the virus particles suspended in the air for up to two hours, so there is a level of awareness that we want folks to have.”

Clayton clarifies that those with exposure don’t need to lockdown, similar to what was asked during the COVID-19 pandemic, but to get vaccinated as soon as possible if needed.

According to the CDC, around 96 percent of confirmed cases involve people who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Dr. Ashley Sands, who specializes in pediatric infectious disease, says the effectiveness of the vaccine has led to some people forgetting some of the complications that can occur with infection.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of complications. We see a high hospitalization rate in children who are infected with measles, we also see high rates of pneumonia, otitis media or ear infection, and diarrhea.”

Getting the MMR vaccine provides 93% protection after one dose and 97% protection after two doses; however, that does leave a chance of infection despite vaccination, usually with milder symptoms.

Last week, a vaccinated boy in a neighboring county in Nebraska became the state’s first confirmed case of

measles

since 2017.