United States: Officials from the Pine Ridge Reservation have warned Oglala Sioux Tribe members about Nebraska’s first case of measles.
More about the news
On Tuesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported a measles case in Sheridan County, the Nebraska county just south of Pine Ridge.
The Nebraska alert stated, “The patient is an appropriately vaccinated child with no out-of-state travel history.”
The following public areas experienced measles exposure, so we recommend any people present take the risk survey, keloland.com reported.
Oglala Sioux Tribe sends measles alert after case in border county. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Officials on the Pine Ridge Reservation have sent an alert for Oglala Sioux Tribe members about Nebraska’s first confirmed case of measles. https://t.co/3IHmLqtIll
— Martha Young-JD, MBA, PCC-😷 (@mryoung151) May 28, 2025
The OST alert mentioned, “Your child can catch Measles easily, and it spreads quickly. Contact your local IHS to find out if your child is caught up on the vaccinations.”
KELOLAND News learned from State Epidemiologist Joshua Clayton earlier this month that the number of people vaccinated against measles in South Dakota is lower than the national average.
“We have decreased to the point where we had been almost very close to the national average, and now, we’re starting to dip a little bit below that national average,” Clayton mentioned.
In 2015, there were about eight to 10 measles cases in South Dakota.
Precautions and What to Do
In light of Nebraska’s first confirmed case of measles in Sheridan County—just south of the Pine Ridge Reservation—Oglala Sioux Tribe officials are urging community members to remain vigilant.
Measles is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, especially among unvaccinated individuals. Parents are strongly advised to contact their local Indian Health Service (IHS) facility to ensure their children are up to date with vaccinations.
Anyone who was present in the public locations listed by health officials should take the recommended risk survey to assess exposure.
Although the patient was a vaccinated child with no travel history, health experts stress that declining vaccination rates—such as those seen recently in South Dakota—may increase the risk of future outbreaks.
Staying informed, verifying vaccination records, and acting quickly on health alerts are key steps in protecting yourself and your community.