Health experts comment on rare South Dakota measles case

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota has confirmed its first measles case since 2015.

Health officials from the South Dakota Department of Health and Avera Health spoke on the next steps they are taking to combat any potential spread after a case was confirmed in Pennington County.

On Thursday, the DOH announced an adult Pennington County resident developed a measles infection after traveling internationally. They tested positive for measles at Monument Health in Rapid City, according to a DOH news release.

Dr. Joshua Clayton, State Epidemiologist, said the reason they are seeing measles pop up now is due to individuals importing it back to the U.S.

"That's what we have seen across the US in other public health jurisdictions where we have seen over 160 cases now of measles imported into the US," said Clayton in an interview with KELOLAND News.

Dr. Kevin Post, Chief Medical Officer with Avera Health, shared the symptoms of measles.

"Measles is a viral infection that is extremely ...