The US state of Wisconsin reports 214 measles cases this year, driven by a significant outbreak in the south-west, with health officials warning of the risks posed by unvaccinated populations amid a nationwide rise in cases.
Wisconsin has confirmed 214 measles cases this year, the state Department of Health Services said, as a worsening outbreak continues to spread across the south-west of the state. Health officials said 202 of the cases are tied to a cluster in Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Vernon counties, and that the source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. Nearly all of those infected were not vaccinated against measles, according to the department.
The state said the outbreak remains concentrated in the south-west, where six probable cases have also been identified. Three additional cases in Marathon County and one in Chippewa County are linked to travel outside Wisconsin and are not part of the south-western outbreak. Public health workers are still trying to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.
The latest Wisconsin figures come against a broader backdrop of rising measles activity in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 285 measles cases nationwide by the end of 2024, with 16 outbreaks accounting for 69% of cases. That represented a sharp increase from 2023, when the CDC recorded four outbreaks and a smaller share of outbreak-associated infections.
Measles has remained relatively uncommon in Wisconsin in recent years because of high vaccination rates, but the state has warned that the virus is highly contagious and can cause serious complications in people who are not protected. Earlier in the year, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said it was working with local health departments to trace exposures after cases were identified in Dane, Rock, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties, including several public locations where people may have been exposed. State officials have also stressed that the best protection is the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
