Nickelodeon Universe visitors might've been exposed to measles, MDH warns
A Dakota County child infected with measles visited Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America in late May, state health officials said Monday.
The Minnesota Department of Health said anyone at the theme park on Saturday, May 24 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. "may have been exposed and should be aware of any symptoms that develop between May 31 and June 14."
The measles case detected in the child is one of two new measles cases recently confirmed by MDH, the agency announced.
The other person infected with measles is a Washington County adult who was exposed during domestic air travel outside of Minnesota, MDH said. That individual's vaccination status is unverified.
The Dakota County child infected with measles is unvaccinated, but had not traveled outside of Minnesota in the last month. How they contracted measles is unknown.
'Anytime we confirm a case of measles unrelated to travel that has no known source it is worrying,' stated Jessica Hancock-Allen, director of the infectious diseases division at MDH. "This is because it could be a sign that measles is spreading in the community undetected by public health and healthcare systems. It is uncertain where the child was exposed and whether others may have been exposed."
Health officials are urging families to ensure their children are up to date on their immunizations as measles cases are on the rise in the U.S. and globally.
Minnesota recorded 70 cases of measles in 2024 – the highest number of cases seen since the 2017 outbreak involving unvaccinated children sickened 75.
Over 730 measles cases nationally are linked to a major, ongoing outbreak in the West Texas.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for people to get the measles vaccine, but has also faced criticism for falsely claiming the vaccine hasn't been adequately tested and offers only short-lived protection.
Children should receive two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine—the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years of age, according to MDH.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are considered 97% effective at preventing measles.
Measles spreads easily by coughing, talking or being in the same room with someone who has measles, which can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours.
According to Mayo Clinic, measles incubates and spreads throughout the body without signs and symptoms for 10 to 14 days.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed or watery eyes and a sore throat. The relatively mild phase of the illness lasts two-to-three days typically, with rash onset following.
The rash consists of small, slightly-raised red spots and bumps in tight clusters, typically appearing on the face initially.
Measles can be serious or deadly for all age groups, but it's particularly dangerous for children under the age of 5, adults over the age of 20, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, around one out of every four people who get measles in the United States require hospitalization.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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