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Varicella (Chickenpox) and Zoster (Shingles) Statistics
Updated 6/5/2025
The incidence of varicella (chickenpox) has declined sharply in Minnesota over the last 15 years with the introduction of the varicella vaccine and new immunization recommendations and requirements. From 2005 to 2012, we monitored varicella activity through outbreaks reported by K-12 schools and individual cases reported by selected sentinel schools. When the reported numbers became too low to detect disease trends, the state reporting rule for varicella was revised. Since 2013, health care providers, child cares, and schools have been required to report all suspected and confirmed cases of varicella.
On this page:
Varicella and zoster annual statistics
2025 varicella cases to date
2024 varicella cases
Disease Control Newsletter (DCN)
Varicella and zoster annual statistics
Varicella annual case counts, 2013-2023, Minnesota
Varicella and Zoster Annual Statistics Summaries
Archive of annual summaries of varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles) statistics including incidence of chickenpox by age and county, effects of vaccination, risk factors, and trends for childhood shingles.
2025 varicella cases to date
Data are preliminary and may change as reports are received.
As of June 5, 2025, the number of probable and confirmed cases reported: 135
2025 cases by county map
2025 cases by county
| County | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Aitkin | 0 |
| Anoka | 1 |
| Becker | 0 |
| Beltrami | 0 |
| Benton | 1 |
| Big Stone | 0 |
| Blue Earth | 1 |
| Brown | 0 |
| Carlton | 2 |
| Carver | 2 |
| Cass | 0 |
| Chippewa | 0 |
| Chisago | 1 |
| Clay | 0 |
| Clearwater | 0 |
| Cook | 0 |
| Cottonwood | 0 |
| Crow Wing | 2 |
| Dakota | 38 |
| Dodge | 0 |
| Douglas | 0 |
| Faribault | 0 |
| Fillmore | 1 |
| Freeborn | 0 |
| Goodhue | 2 |
| Grant | 0 |
| Hennepin | 31 |
| Houston | 0 |
| Hubbard | 1 |
| Isanti | 0 |
| Itasca | 1 |
| Jackson | 0 |
| Kanabec | 1 |
| Kandiyohi | 0 |
| Kittson | 0 |
| Koochiching | 0 |
| Lac Qui Parle | 0 |
| Lake | 0 |
| Lake of the Woods | 0 |
| Le Sueur | 0 |
| Lincoln | 0 |
| Lyon | 1 |
| Mahnomen | 1 |
| Marshall | 0 |
| Martin | 1 |
| McLeod | 5 |
| Meeker | 0 |
| Mille Lacs | 2 |
| Morrison | 0 |
| Mower | 0 |
| Murray | 0 |
| Nicollet | 0 |
| Nobles | 1 |
| Norman | 0 |
| Olmsted | 1 |
| Otter Tail | 1 |
| Pennington | 0 |
| Pine | 1 |
| Pipestone | 0 |
| Polk | 0 |
| Pope | 0 |
| Ramsey | 6 |
| Red Lake | 0 |
| Redwood | 3 |
| Renville | 0 |
| Rice | 2 |
| Rock | 0 |
| Roseau | 0 |
| Scott | 7 |
| Sherburne | 1 |
| Sibley | 0 |
| St. Louis | 2 |
| Stearns | 2 |
| Steele | 1 |
| Stevens | 0 |
| Swift | 0 |
| Todd | 1 |
| Traverse | 0 |
| Wabasha | 0 |
| Wadena | 0 |
| Waseca | 0 |
| Washington | 7 |
| Watonwan | 0 |
| Wilkin | 0 |
| Winona | 1 |
| Wright | 3 |
| Yellow Medicine | 0 |
| Unknown | 0 |
2024 Varicella Cases to Date
Data are preliminary and may change as reports are received.
As of December 31, 2024, the number of probable and confirmed cases reported: 203
2024 Cases by County Map
2024 Cases by County
| County | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Aitkin | 0 |
| Anoka | 7 |
| Becker | 0 |
| Beltrami | 1 |
| Benton | 4 |
| Big Stone | 0 |
| Blue Earth | 1 |
| Brown | 1 |
| Carlton | 0 |
| Carver | 16 |
| Cass | 0 |
| Chippewa | 0 |
| Chisago | 3 |
| Clay | 2 |
| Clearwater | 0 |
| Cook | 0 |
| Cottonwood | 0 |
| Crow Wing | 3 |
| Dakota | 23 |
| Dodge | 1 |
| Douglas | 1 |
| Faribault | 0 |
| Fillmore | 0 |
| Freeborn | 1 |
| Goodhue | 1 |
| Grant | 0 |
| Hennepin | 44 |
| Houston | 0 |
| Hubbard | 0 |
| Isanti | 2 |
| Itasca | 1 |
| Jackson | 1 |
| Kanabec | 0 |
| Kandiyohi | 5 |
| Kittson | 0 |
| Koochiching | 0 |
| Lac Qui Parle | 0 |
| Lake | 0 |
| Lake of the Woods | 0 |
| Le Sueur | 0 |
| Lincoln | 0 |
| Lyon | 0 |
| Mahnomen | 0 |
| Marshall | 2 |
| Martin | 0 |
| McLeod | 1 |
| Meeker | 0 |
| Mille Lacs | 0 |
| Morrison | 0 |
| Mower | 4 |
| Murray | 3 |
| Nicollet | 1 |
| Nobles | 0 |
| Norman | 0 |
| Olmsted | 7 |
| Otter Tail | 0 |
| Pennington | 0 |
| Pine | 0 |
| Pipestone | 0 |
| Polk | 0 |
| Pope | 0 |
| Ramsey | 15 |
| Red Lake | 1 |
| Redwood | 0 |
| Renville | 2 |
| Rice | 1 |
| Rock | 1 |
| Roseau | 0 |
| Scott | 7 |
| Sherburne | 3 |
| Sibley | 1 |
| St. Louis | 1 |
| Stearns | 4 |
| Steele | 0 |
| Stevens | 0 |
| Swift | 0 |
| Todd | 2 |
| Traverse | 0 |
| Wabasha | 0 |
| Wadena | 2 |
| Waseca | 0 |
| Washington | 7 |
| Watonwan | 0 |
| Wilkin | 0 |
| Winona | 1 |
| Wright | 19 |
| Yellow Medicine | 0 |
| Unknown | 0 |
Disease Control Newsletter (DCN)
Disease Control Newsletter (DCN) annual summary of varicella and zoster disease in Minnesota. Provides the detailed statistics for disease activity in Minnesota for each year.
- Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2022
To view the 2022 annual summary for varicella and zoster, open the PDF and search for varicella and zoster. - Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2021
To view the 2021 annual summary for varicella and zoster, open the PDF and search for varicella and zoster. - Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2020
To view the 2020 annual summary for varicella and zoster, open the PDF and search for varicella and zoster. - Varicella and Zoster, 2019
- Varicella and Zoster, 2018
- Varicella and Zoster, 2017
- Varicella and Zoster, 2016
- Varicella and Zoster, 2015
- Varicella and Zoster, 2014
- Varicella and Zoster, 2013
- Varicella and Zoster, 2012