ST PAUL, Minn. (KARE 11) – Department of Health (MDH) officials have issued a health advisory following the discovery of the first case of measles in the state in two years. The infected patient is a 1-year-old from Dakota County who just got back from international travel. According to the MDH health advisory, the child was not vaccinated against measles and they are urging parents to get their kids vaccinated. The child’s unvaccinated sibling has since tested positive for measles bringing the total cases to two in Minnesota. No further information about the children has been released. MDH officials said in 2022, Minnesota had a total of “22 cases of measles that were all related to international travel, all unvaccinated, with 10 individuals requiring hospitalization,” according to the advisory. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 58 measles nationwide in 2023 and nine cases already in 2024. MDH officials said family physicians, primary care clinicians, infectious disease doctors, and emergency department staff need to be aware of people showing signs of measles. Symptoms of measles include a rash, fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and pink eye. Measles or rubeola is a highly contagious viral infection that’s serious for small children but is easily preventable by a vaccine, according to the MDH website.