Wisconsin DHS confirms case of measles in Dane County

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MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) -The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed a case of measles in a person living in Dane County, with travel and employment in Rock County. The DHS has released the public locations and times where people may have been exposed to measles:

• Kwik Trip, 603 W Madison Ave. Milton, WI, on Sunday, April 21, 2024, between 2:30 and 5 pm
• SSM Health Dean Medical Group - Janesville, 3200 E. Racine St., Janesville, WI, on Monday, April 22, 2024 between 1 and 5 pm, and SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville, 3400 E. Racine St., Janesville, WI, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, between 8 am and 6 pm
• uBreakiFix, 2810 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI on Monday, April 22, 2024, between 5 and 7:30 pm
• Noodles and Co., 110 Limestone Pass, Cottage Grove, WI on Monday, April 22, 2024, between 5:15 and 7:45 pm

Measles cases have been relatively low in Wisconsin in recent years, but this year, there's been a spike nationally with 125 cases reported.

According to Dr. Stephanie Schaur, the Wisconsin Immunization Program Manager, measles symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body.

DHS, in coordination with Public Health Madison & Dane County and Rock County Public Health, are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus.

Doctor Schaur said the rate of people getting the MMR vaccine, which protects from measles, mumps, and rubella, has been on a steady decline by 6% over the past decade in Wisconsin.

"We still have a fair amount of our community that have vaccination rates lower than we'd like," said Dr. Schaur. "It's an area of concern that should measles get into one of those pockets that we will have spread. It's one thing to talk about the statewide rate but what really matters is the vaccination rate of the community you're living in."

DHS says cases of measles have been rare in Wisconsin due to high vaccination rates, but measles is highly contagious and can cause serious health complications for those who are not vaccinated.

Wisconsin residents can find their immunization records using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).

DHS has a full statement here.

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