OCONTO COUNTY, WI – Health officials say two dozen cases of measles have now been confirmed in Oconto County, the only county in Wisconsin currently experiencing an outbreak. The first cases were reported in mid-July, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is now providing regular updates through a newly launched online dashboard. Updates will be posted twice a week, at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
From July 13 through August 31, DHS reports 24 confirmed measles cases, all in unvaccinated individuals. Two people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Children and teens make up the majority of cases, with 12.5% of patients ages 0–4, 54.2% ages 5–17, and 33.3% age 18 or older.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling that can cause permanent damage, and even death. Nationally, about one in four people with measles require hospitalization, and one to two out of every 1,000 infected children die from the disease despite medical care.
Health officials continue to stress vaccination as the best defense. Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective and provide long-lasting protection against all strains of the virus. DHS says additional updates will be issued if there are new outbreaks or significant public exposures.
Comments