9 Measles Cases Confirmed In Wisconsin, All Tied To Out-Of-State Travel

OCONTO, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Oconto County Public Health have confirmed nine cases of measles in Oconto County.

One case was confirmed through testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, with eight additional cases confirmed based on exposure and symptoms.

All of the cases were exposed to a common source during out-of-state travel, health officials said.

DHS, in coordination with Oconto County Public Health, said it is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus. No public points of exposure have been identified, and the risk to the community remains low, according to the DHS.

What To Know About Measles

• Contagiousness
  • Measles spreads through the air and can linger for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Up to 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed will become infected.
• Symptoms (typically appear 10 to 21 days after exposure):
  • Runny nose
  • High fever (can exceed 104°F)
  • Tiredness
  • Cough
  • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis or “pink eye”)
  • A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and spreads to the arms and legs 3–5 days after symptoms begin
• Complications
  • Pneumonia
  • Brain damage
  • Deafness
  • In rare cases, death
  • 1 in 4 people who get measles in the U.S. will be hospitalized
• What To Do If You Have Symptoms
  • Stay home (no work, school, shopping, or public transportation)
  • Call your doctor or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions to avoid exposing others
• Prevention
  • The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is 97 percent effective with two doses
  • Most people born before 1957 are considered immune
  • All other adults without lab-confirmed immunity should have at least one dose
  • Children should receive two doses
• How To Check Your Vaccination Status
  • Visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry
  • Contact your doctor, local clinic, pharmacy, or health department
  • Call 211 for free, confidential help finding a clinic
• Special Considerations Women who are pregnant, have children under 12 months old, or are unable to receive the MMR vaccine should contact their doctor or a community clinic for guidance

Learn more now.