An infant has died of measles in Wisconsin. It is the state's first measles death since 1990, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said Thursday. The coroner listed measles as the immediate cause of death. The child's death is tied to the outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin, and the department said it would not release more details to protect the family's privacy.
"Any death of a child is a tragedy and even more so when it is related to a vaccine-preventable disease," DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson said.
How big the outbreak is
Wisconsin has confirmed 431 measles cases in 2026 and nine hospitalizations, according to the department's outbreak page, updated Nov. 5. That is the most cases the state has seen in more than 35 years. Health officials say the real number is probably higher, since not everyone who gets sick sees a doctor or gets tested.
Most cases come from one cluster. As of Nov. 3, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Vernon counties in the southwest corner of the state had 362 confirmed and 6 probable cases, and the state says the virus is still spreading locally there. Chippewa County, in western Wisconsin, has a separate outbreak with 44 confirmed cases, also spreading locally. Several other counties have smaller clusters, and some of them trace back to travel out of state.
Since Aug. 1, the department has sent 2,000 doses of MMR vaccine to local health departments in affected communities, and providers across the state have given more than 42,000 doses.
What the state is telling families
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, according to DHS. Children younger than 5 face the highest risk of complications, along with pregnant people and anyone living with a weakened immune system. Measles can lead to pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
Residents can look up their family's shots in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. Anyone exposed to measles should stay home. People who get a fever and rash, especially after an exposure or without vaccination, should call their health care provider before going in so the clinic can keep others from being exposed.
