An outbreak of measles in two counties reported earlier this month has spread and is affecting 48 people, the state health department reported Friday.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has identified a total of 41 confirmed cases and seven “probable” cases, reported in Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties. They include two cases in Grant County, which were reported earlier this week, and 35 in Iowa County.
In Lafayette County, the count is now four confirmed measles cases and seven probable cases. One of the confirmed cases is new, along with the four probable cases, DHS reported in an updated announcement.
So far DHS has not found evidence of public exposure to the virus, meaning the cases identified so far appear to have been spread between people who knew each other.
State health officials are recommending that people check their vaccination status. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is the best protection against measles, health officials say.
DHS is recommending that anyone who isn’t sure whether they have the MMR vaccine check their vaccination status at the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or with their local public health department or healthcare provider.
A federal report in July found that nationwide, measles cases have reached their highest level in 35 years. The reemergence of the viral illness, which public health experts said had been eliminated by 2000, coincides with declining vaccination rates in the U.S.
Since Jan. 1, the number of Wisconsin measles cases has grown to 50, according to DHS, and with one exception, everyone who has taken ill was not vaccinated for the disease.
DHS operates a Measles Dashboard and a webpage for Outbreaks and Investigations that supplies more public information about public health conditions, with 12% of cases in children age 4 or younger, 44% in children ages 5 to 17, and 44% in adults 18 or older.
This report was updated with additional information from DHS.
