The South Dakota Department of Health has provided an update regarding a possible measles exposure episode at the Milbank Elementary School. According to the DOH, the exposure incident occurred on January 15
th. Since then, the state has its first confirmed case of measles. The case is a child among a family of four. That brings the total number of measles cases in South Dakota in 2026 to five. In 2025 South Dakota reported 16 caes of measles which is a 1600 percent increase from 2024. If vaccination trends continue, the United States is on track to lose its measles elimination status after holding it since 2000. Health officials urge residents to get their children vaccinated against the illness.
Original story: The South Dakota Department of Health has sent out a memo notifying parents of a potential measles exposure at Milbank Elementary School. According to the memo, the exposure happened on January 15 after a student was confirmed to have the infection at the school. The state department of health urges parents to protect their children from measles by vaccinating them to avoid the risk of spreading the illness.
