Connect with us

North Dakota

5 more cases of measles found in western North Dakota, bringing state total to 9

Published

on

5 more cases of measles found in western North Dakota, bringing state total to 9


WILLISTON, N.D. — An additional five measles cases have been identified in Williams County, bringing North Dakota’s 2025 total to nine cases.

According to the North Dakota Health and Human Services, all the newly confirmed individuals were unvaccinated and had no reported contact with previously identified cases. These individuals are currently isolating at home as recommended to help limit further spread, a release said.

The first measles case in North Dakota since 2011 was identified in Williston on May 2.

The case appeared in an unvaccinated child in Williams County who authorities believe contracted the disease from an out-of-state visitor. On Monday, May 5, officials confirmed the total had jumped to four cases, all identified in unvaccinated individuals.

Advertisement

Measles is a contagious viral illness that can lead to serious and deadly symptoms in young children and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and a body-wide rash.

North Dakota health officials said members of the public who were at the Williston Walmart on April 29 between 2 and 5 p.m. may have been exposed. Anyone who was at the store at that time is encouraged to monitor for symptoms and contact a health care provider if symptoms develop.

Four of the people diagnosed with measles were in Williston schools while infectious, state health officials said. North Dakota Century Code requires unvaccinated students to be excluded from school for 21 days following exposure.

Staff at the schools without documentation of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination or who were not born before 1957 should also not attend school, officials said.
Unvaccinated staff and children in the following schools have been told to remain at home and monitor for symptoms:

  • Missouri Ridge Elementary: May 7-May 23,
  • Williston Middle School: May 7-May 21,
  • Williston High School: May 7-May 21.

“Due to the current measles outbreak, please isolate at home if you have symptoms of runny nose, fever, cough, and rash,” Beverly Tong, Upper Missouri District Health Unit deputy director, said in the release. “Isolation should continue until at least four full days after the onset of a rash. Time from exposure to onset of rash is generally around seven to 21 days, and you can spread measles up to four days prior to the time the rash appears.”

Tong recommended people to contact a primary doctor for anyone who wishes to be tested for measles.

Advertisement

Officials said the new cases are not linked to earlier known exposures. However, as a precaution, state officials recommend all residents and travelers to Williams County ensure they are vaccinated against measles. This includes consideration of early MMR vaccination for infants aged 6 through 11 months. Infants younger than 6 months are not eligible for the vaccine.

Aside from the single case in 2011, North Dakota had not had any reported measles infections since before 2000, when the disease was eliminated from the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health officials attribute recent measles outbreaks across the nation to declining vaccination rates. As of Friday, May 2, the CDC confirmed 935 measles cases nationwide, up from 884 cases a week before. According to CDC data, 121 people have been hospitalized nationwide, with three deaths confirmed.

MMR vaccination rates declined in North Dakota kindergartners from 95% in 2019-2020 to 90% this school year,

the North Dakota News Cooperative reported.

Advertisement

For more information, contact the HHS Immunization Unit at (701) 328-2378 or 711 (TTY), or visit

hhs.nd.gov/measles

.





Source link

Advertisement

North Dakota

Runners will soon trek across North Dakota to bring awareness for families grieving the loss of a child – KVRR Local News

Published

on

Runners will soon trek across North Dakota to bring awareness for families grieving the loss of a child – KVRR Local News


FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — For more than 400 miles, 12 runners will trek across North Dakota to carry the stories of love, loss, and resilience from community to community.

“After having run Haven since 2017, the 10.15 Project came, and it just is so exciting because it’s really looking at pregnancy and infant loss and putting it in a new light. And really giving people the opportunity to do something that you can see and it’s meaningful,” said Jen Burgard, Founder and Executive Director of Haven.

The 10.15 Project was co-founded by Haven, an organization that supports grieving families. The relay begins on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. And during the four days, the team hopes to bring awareness to families.

“It gives you pieces of solitude, of quiet, of reflection, and also a purpose. It gives you meaning, and I think endurance is one of the biggest pieces of this. It’s the endurance required to navigate pregnancy and infant loss is extreme. And I think this really mirrors that,” said Burgard.

Advertisement

While many of the runners come from different fields, many have also experienced a loss themselves.

“When it happened in my family, it was kind of something we were all struck by. You realize how common it is. And you know, I want to bring light to that,” said Ty Casey, Runner and Learning and Development Specialist at TrueNorth Steel.

Casey has multiple runs planned over the next few months, but with this run in particular, he hopes this will bring awareness.

“If this is one thing that can help bring light to it and help people be more open and help people to talk about it, and take some of the grief away that would be totally ideal for us just to help out a little bit,” said Casey.

The relay begins on October 15 in Medora and will end on October 18th in Fargo.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

North Dakota

Behind the Badge – Spring Fever

Published

on


Spring Fever

District Game Warden Sam Feldmann

As winter begins to fade and ice fishing begins to slow, everyone gets the itch to be outside on nice days when it’s warming and the sun is shining. People are beginning to think about their garden or outdoor projects around the house they have been pondering all winter.

While others have been thinking about open water fishing, getting the boat ready, hitting the field to look for shed antlers in a favorite spot they’ve been watching deer all winter, or slipping into the field to lure a spring gobbler into shotgun range with a new call they’ve been practicing with all winter.

Advertisement

With the excitement of warm weather and getting out to enjoy everything a spring day has to offer, I would like to remind everyone of a few things while enjoying what North Dakota has to offer.

This year is a registration year for all motorized watercrafts. This doesn’t just mean you have to renew your registration. It means that when you get the new red stickers sporting “28” on them that they must be affixed to both sides of the bow of the boat.

Another reminder is that if you are going shed hunting, there are a few things to remember. Shed antlers are legal to possess. This time of year, our officers receive lots of calls about shed hunters locating “dead heads,” which are animals that have died and the antlers are still attached to the skull plate.

If you happen to locate a dead head, you cannot possess it without contacting your local game warden and receiving a permit for the animal. Also, if you are going to shed hunt on posted private property or a Private Lands Opens To Sportsmen tract, you need to obtain permission to do so. Wildlife management areas and other state and federal lands are open to shed hunting, but a good rule of thumb is to check the regulations on public property before heading out.

Advertisement

If you are going to be chasing turkeys this spring through the timber, there are a few things that should be remembered. Make sure you have your tag with you when you are in the field. Remember that your tag is only legal for one bearded wild turkey. If you are lucky enough to harvest a turkey you fooled into coming to your calling and decoy, you must tag it before doing anything else.

One last reminder for the spring activities. Remember that all licenses, whether it’s a hunting license or fishing license, expired March 31 and needed to be renewed as of April 1, 2026

With these few reminders out of the way, remember to have fun and enjoy what the great state of North Dakota has to offer.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

North Dakota

Retired Game & Fish Director facing new charge of molesting a child – KVRR Local News

Published

on

Retired Game & Fish Director facing new charge of molesting a child – KVRR Local News


MANDAN, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – Former North Dakota Game & Fish Director Terry Steinwand has been charged with molesting a child.

The Class “A” misdemeanor was filed after a Morton County District Court judge rejected a proposed plea agreement to a felony charge and prosecutors dismissed the charge while retaining the right to file an amended charge.

Steinwand is from Mandan. The 72-year-old is now charged with one count of sexual assault-offensive contact. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

Steinwand was originally charged in September, 2025, when police say he admitted to sexual misconduct.

Advertisement

Steinwand worked for the Game & Fish Dept. for 40 years. He led the agency for about 15 years and retired in 2021.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending