Dane County resident tests positive for measles, what to know and how to get immunized
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed a case of measles in an adult living in Dane County who travels to and is employed in Rock County, the agency reported Friday afternoon.
The individual is believed to have contracted the disease while traveling to another state, said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin Immunization Program manager. Schauer was unable to speak to the individual's vaccination status but noted that 83% of measles cases show up in unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination status.
DHS, along with public health offices in Dane and Rock counties, are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus. Schauer said public health officials are talking with the infected individual to learn where they've been to ensure people who may have been exposed know the steps they can take to protect themselves and watch for symptoms.
What are the exposure locations?
Friday evening, DHS identified five locations where people could have been exposed to measles:
Kwik Trip, 603 W. Madison Ave., Milton, on Sunday, April 21, between 2:30 and 5 p.m.
SSM Health Dean Medical Group - Janesville, 3200 E. Racine St., Janesville, on Monday, April 22, between 1 and 5 p.m.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Janesville, 3400 E. Racine St., Janesville, on Tuesday, April 23, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
uBreakiFix, 2810 E. Washington Ave., Madison, on Monday, April 22, between 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Noodles and Co., 110 Limestone Pass, Cottage Grove, on Monday, April 22, between 5:15 and 7:45 p.m.
What to do if you think you were in contact with someone who has measles?
If you have been exposed to the virus and are not up to date with the MMR vaccine, getting vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure may give "some protection" against the disease, or you could have a milder illness, DHS advises.
If you think you have measles, contact a health care provider. It is important to call your doctor's office or a clinic before visiting so they can take the proper precautions to ensure health care staff and patients are not exposed.
Measles cases are on the rise in the U.S.
Schauer said measles cases have been "relatively low in Wisconsin in the last few years." The most recent case occurred last October when a Milwaukee County resident tested positive.
Currently, however, there are several measles outbreaks in other U.S. states, she said. "Nationally, there have been more cases compared to recent, and there have been 125 cases nationally in 18 jurisdictions already this year. That is really quite a change from the previous year."
DHS warns that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious health complications for those who are not vaccinated. Schauer said vaccination rates have been declining in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 lockdown.
In Wisconsin, the number of people who had received one dose of the MMR vaccine by age 2 dropped from 88.2% in 2013 to 81.6% in 2023, she said. These rates vary by county and community. Schauer said this vaccination rate is not high enough to "stop the spread." To prevent a measles outbreak within a community, you need a rate "north of 95%," she said.
Last fall, the Journal Sentinel reported that Wisconsin kindergartners had one of the lowest rates of vaccination in the country against measles, partly driven by a rise in kindergartners getting exemptions from state vaccine requirements.
"We still have a fair amount of portions of our community that have vaccination rates lower than we'd like," Schauer said. "So, it is an area of concern that, should measles get into one of those pockets, that we will have a spread. It's one thing to talk about the statewide rate, but what really matters is the vaccination rate of the community that you're living in."
What are the symptoms of measles?
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.
Symptoms to watch for include: runny nose; high fever; fatigue; cough; red, watery eyes or pink eye; and a red rash with raised bumps. The rash typically starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after the first symptoms appear.
Measles can be dangerous, especially for infants and young children. It can cause pneumonia. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis — swelling of the brain — that can lead to convulsions and can leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
One out of every four people who get measles in the United States will be hospitalized. One or two out of every 1,000 children in the United States who get measles will die from the disease, even with the best care, according to the state health department.
How to get vaccinated against measles
The best way to protect yourself from measles is to get the MMR vaccine, DHS says; two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease.
Schauer recommended that individuals over 12 months obtain two doses of the MMR vaccine. Infants 6-11 months old can receive one dose. This is especially recommended if you plan to travel internationally.
If you're unsure of the vaccination status of yourself or your child, Wisconsin residents can find their immunization records using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). Instructions are available in English, Spanish and Hmong. If you are unable to access your records, contact your doctor's office or local health department.
The MMR vaccine is available at area doctor's offices or clinics, local health departments, and some local pharmacies. If you do not have health insurance, or your insurance may not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults programs may be able to help.
Journal Sentinel reporters Jessica Van Egeren and Drake Bentley contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin reports a case of measles in Dane County
