False Positive on ND Measles Case

The North Dakota Department of Health now says subsequent testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded the individual said to have contracted measles found it was a false positive.

Therefore, the NDDoH has determined that the threat of measles for this specific situation to be over. Children and employees who are currently being excluded from school and other activities, may return on Friday. Other individuals contacted by the NDDoH about a potential exposure no longer need to watch for symptoms of measles.

Initial test results on this individual were positive for measles. Based on symptoms and travel history, the individual was originally determined to be a case of measles. To protect the health of the public, notifications and prevention activities were initiated by the NDDoH. Per protocol, the NDDoH sends samples to the CDC for additional screening and confirmation. Laboratory tests can sometimes produce false positives; however, this is rare.