Update on Measles in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Rock County Public Health are working together to investigate five probable measles cases in Rock County. The cases are considered probable based on symptoms but have not been confirmed by laboratory testing. These cases are linked to each other but are not connected to the ongoing outbreak in Southwest Wisconsin. The source of the infection remains unknown.

No public exposure notifications are currently needed. People who may have been exposed have been identified for direct follow up from public health. If public health identifies a location where people may have been exposed and not everyone can be identified and contacted directly, information about the location will be shared publicly.

Since August, confirmed measles cases have also been reported in Chippewa, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Marathon, and Vernon Counties.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes. Measles can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, brain damage, and deafness, and can sometimes be deadly.

Wisconsinites should know the symptoms of measles and call a health care provider if they develop symptoms, even if they are not aware of a specific exposure. Symptoms of measles typically appear approximately 10 to 21 days after being exposed to the virus.

DHS will send these messages when there are additional counties with confirmed cases of measles or if case counts increase significantly. Please continue to monitor the DHS Measles Dashboard and Outbreaks and Investigations webpage for regular updates.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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