We Need Emergency Funding To Fight Outbreaks: MN Health Commissioner

Amidst "the largest measles outbreak the state has faced in nearly 30 years," Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger Wednesday called for "the immediate need for a public health emergency fund to support state and local activities related to multiple disease outbreaks threatening Minnesotans’ health and safety."

"Significant threats to public health are becoming more frequent and costly," Ehlinger said in a statement. "In recent months, state and local public health officials have had to respond to a series of infectious disease outbreaks including multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, hundreds of new cases of syphilis, and now, the largest measles outbreak the state has faced in nearly 30 years".

Ehlinger noted that these outbreaks come on the heels of extensive public health efforts in 2016 for the Zika virus response and in 2014-15 for Ebola preparedness:

Minnesotans rightly expect a rapid and effective response to these threats, but current state funds lack the flexibility needed to deal with emergent disease threats. We cannot continue diverting funding and resources away from other vital public health services to respond to disease outbreaks and threats.

With state and local response costs for the first half of 2017 approaching $3 million just for measles, tuberculosis and syphilis, I respectfully request that the legislature create a public health response contingency fund of $5 million to ensure sufficient resources are available for immediate, life-saving actions to protect Minnesotans from infectious disease outbreaks and other unanticipated public health threats. Governor Dayton has given me his support for this proposal and we will advocate for its inclusion in any final legislative budget agreement.

Measles In Minnesota

Hennepin County's measles outbreak has spread to two other counties, the Minnesota Department of Health confirms. Measles is a rare disease in Minnesota and in the U.S.; however, measles is still common in other parts of the world. Most measles cases occurring in Minnesota result from someone traveling to or from countries where measles is common, and who are infectious with measles after arriving in Minnesota.

Measles can spread easily to unvaccinated persons. Maintaining high immunization rates is essential to preventing measles. Most people in Minnesota are immune either from having been vaccinated or from having had the disease. However, in recent years vaccine rates have declined in some communities and groups – often due to fears related to misinformation about vaccine risks, according to health officials.

MDH recommends that all Somali Minnesotan children statewide who have already received their first dose of MMR vaccine get their second dose now. This special vaccine schedule is commonly recommended during outbreaks instead of waiting until 4 to 6 years old for the second dose.

Parents of Somali Minnesotan children should contact their child’s health care provider and specifically tell them the child needs the MMR vaccine, MDH says. This may help avoid a longer wait associated with scheduling a routine appointment, according to a news release.

Current Measles Outbreak:

• 50 total cases in Minnesota:
  • 47 in Hennepin County
  • 2 in Ramsey County
  • 1 in Crow Wing County
• Vaccination status:
  • 45 confirmed to be unvaccinated
  • 1 had 1 dose of MMR
  • 2 had 2 doses of MMR
  • 1 case has unknown vaccination status
• Age:
  • 47 in children (ages 0-17 years)
  • 3 cases in adults
• 45 of the cases are Somali Minnesotan

For more information on measles and for updates as the investigation continues, visit Measles.

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