DOH reports first measles case in South Dakota
According to a release sent Monday afternoon, a man in Meade County developed the infection after traveling internationally. The man visited several public locations and those who were in the following locations are asked to self-monitor or symptoms for 21 days.
AG: Marshall's belongings found in Fall River County
The 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
The DOH says symptoms appear in two stages.
The first may include a runny nose, cough and a slight fever, while the eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light and the fever consistently rises each day.
The second stage begins on the third to seventh day of symptoms and consists of atemperature of 103-105°F, and a red blotchy rash lasting for four to seven days. The DOH says the rash usually begins on the face and spreads down to the torso and out to the legs and arms.
The DOH notes that measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air.
'Individuals who lack immunity from vaccination or past infection are at high risk of measles infection if they have contact with an infected person,' said state epidemiologist Joshua Clayton.
Clayton spoke to KELOLAND News about the risks of measles last week, telling us that it was a question of when, not if, the disease would appear in South Dakota amid a wider nationwide surge in cases.
The DOH states that the MMR vaccine offers the best protection against infection. 'Measles vaccine (MMR) is typically given at 12-15 months of age. The second dose of MMR is given at 4-6 years of age. The vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection, and two MMR doses usually produce lifelong immunity. If you are planning to travel internationally with children, MMR vaccines can be given to children starting at six months of age,' reads the release.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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