SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN — The state's largest measles outbreak in decades has now surpassed 140 confirmed and probable cases across three southwest counties, and public health officials say the illness is affecting mostly unvaccinated children.
Outbreak concentrated in three counties
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported a Sept. 4 update showing 65 cases in Lafayette County, 62 in Iowa County and 15 in Grant County. A number of those are classified as probable cases, meaning patients have clinical symptoms consistent with measles but laboratory confirmation is pending.
| County | Confirmed/Probable Cases |
|---|---|
| Lafayette | 65 |
| Iowa | 62 |
| Grant | 15 |
Two additional people were hospitalized as the outbreak continued to expand, the state update said. State immunization officials said most of the cases are among children ages 5 to 17, who account for nearly half of the total.
Vaccination status and federal assistance
State health data indicates the outbreak is almost exclusively among people who have not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In an update to the media, Stephanie Schauer, the state’s immunization program manager, said two staffers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who were assisting on the ground were scheduled to return home Sept. 4.
“Wisconsin’s request for help from the CDC ‘had a finite time frame,’” Schauer said, adding that she could not say whether another request for CDC assistance would be made.
Local and state officials have been coordinating contact tracing, vaccination clinics and public information campaigns to slow transmission. The arrival of CDC staff provided short-term surge capacity for epidemiologic investigation and community outreach.
Symptoms and what to do if exposed
Measles symptoms typically begin 7 to 14 days after exposure and usually start with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A few days later a distinctive red rash emerges, often beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth a few days after symptoms begin.
Public health officials advise anyone who thinks they may have measles to avoid contact with others and call a medical provider before showing up at a clinic or emergency department. That helps prevent exposing other patients, including infants and pregnant people, who can suffer severe complications from measles.
- Measles is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets and airborne particles.
- The single best protection is the MMR vaccine; unvaccinated people are at highest risk.
- Health departments are offering targeted vaccination clinics and outreach in affected communities.
Local impact and next steps
School districts, pediatric clinics and local health departments in the three counties have ramped up communication with families and are coordinating vaccination opportunities where feasible. Because children ages 5 to 17 make up a large share of cases, schools are likely to be primary settings for both transmission and mitigation efforts.
State health officials did not say whether additional federal assistance would be requested. The departure of CDC personnel after a defined assignment means local public health teams will continue much of the work, including case investigation and immunization planning.
Residents in the affected counties and surrounding areas should watch for symptoms, confirm their MMR vaccination status with a medical provider and consider vaccination if they are not up to date. Health officials stress that measles can have serious consequences, particularly for young children and people with weakened immune systems.
We will continue to monitor updates from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and local health departments as more information becomes available.
Peter Vandenberg is the state correspondent at WE NEWS.
