Minnesota's measles case count jumps to 20, with most unvaccinated children

Dakota County in Minnesota is reporting three new measles cases, bringing the state's total number this year to 20.

The Minnesota Department of Health says each of the new cases involves unvaccinated children who likely caught measles from an unvaccinated adult.

When you look at Minnesota's overall cases, most are unvaccinated children who have not traveled, but have been in close contact with an adult family member who had. Eighteen out of the 20 measles cases are children , the health department reports.

"Twenty cases is more than we would like to see in Minnesota," said Jessica Hancock-Allen, director of infectious disease for the health department.

And health officials anticipate there will be more, because more than 1,500 people have contracted the virus so far this year i