FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services confirmed two cases of measles in Cass County.
Both people, one of whom is hospitalized, were unvaccinated and got measles through international travel. Health officials say the two cases in Cass County are not related to cases in Williams County, which is dealing with nine.
The public was also possibly exposed to the Cass cases recently at a pair of Essentia Health clinics in the metro:
- May 7 between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at The Lights West Fargo Clinic
- May 9 between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the walk-in care clinic locate at 4110 51st Avenue South.
HHS, in coordination with Essentia Health, is identifying people who may have been exposed.
While admitting there are mixed messages, Candace DeMatties with the Partnership to Fight Infectious Diseases says she applauds Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Junior him on saying the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong says he’s always concerned about a highly contagious disease like the measles and says it’s a serious virus.
“This is an overall fight about COVID and Facebook and people not having trust in their healthcare and their government anymore. There’s a lot of blame to go around on both sides. I don’t want any kid dying of a disease that was eradicated. Don’t listen to a politician. Go talk to a doctor,” Armstrong said.
