Wisconsin Now the 4th Worst State for Measles Cases In America

For more than 25 years, measles has been considered eliminated in the United States. That could change as soon as this year.

In November, a commission with the Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization's regional office for the Americas, is set to decide whether the U.S. has lost its measles elimination status.

The country earned that status in 2000, meaning the virus was no longer spreading continuously for more than a year.

Some experts don't like the odds. One recent analysis found the U.S. is "highly likely" to lose that status this year. Canada already lost its status in late 2025, and the U.S. had confirmed 3,887 cases across 47 states and jurisdictions by early October.

Wisconsin has become one of the biggest contributors. With more than 300 cases this year, the Badger State now ranks fourth-worst in the country.

Why Measles Is More Than Just a Rash

Measles is also one of the most contagious diseases out there. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes, which means you can catch it at the grocery store, a movie theater or on a plane.

Measles often gets brushed off as a childhood illness. However, it can be serious at any age, especially for children under 5 and adults over 20. Ear infections hit about 1 in 10 children who catch it.

Get our free mobile app

The bigger concerns are pneumonia and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles in the U.S. ends up in the hospital, and 1 in 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, the most common cause of measles deaths in young kids.

About 1 in every 1,000 children who get measles will develop encephalitis, which can lead to convulsions, deafness or intellectual disability. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 infected children will die. There's also a rare but fatal brain disease called SSPE that can appear 7 to 10 years later, even in people who seemed to fully recover.

How Hard Measles Has Hit Wisconsin

Wisconsin's outbreak dates back to early July 2026, though it wasn't publicly reported until August. As of the state's October 23 update, nearly everyone infected was unvaccinated, and six people have been hospitalized.

Southwest Wisconsin remains the epicenter. Lafayette County leads the state with 103 cases, followed by Grant County with 77 and Iowa County with 74. Vernon County has 14 cases and Richland County has 1.

The virus is also showing up farther north and west. Chippewa County's count more than doubled in a week to 28, Marathon County has 6, and Rock County has 5 probable cases.

On Monday, October 26, Jackson County confirmed its first two cases, tied to out-of-state travel. Health officials say the Chippewa and Marathon County cases are also related to out-of-state travel and not connected to the southwest outbreak.

The true number could be even higher. Earlier this fall, Grant County health staff warned the local count was "grossly undercounting" cases. Measles has also been detected in wastewater samples from Iowa, Grant, Lafayette and Green counties.

SEE NOW: Dollar General Faces New Lawsuit After Alleged Overcharging For Years In Wisconsin

A Proven Vaccine Has Been Around Since 1963

The frustrating part for health experts is that measles is preventable. The first measles vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1963, and the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine followed in 1971.

Before the vaccine, the U.S. reported about 500,000 measles cases and 500 deaths every year, and the actual number of infections was estimated at 3 to 4 million annually. Once the vaccine arrived, cases dropped by more than 95%.

Today, two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. Health officials recommend the first dose between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People born before 1957 are generally considered immune. However, anyone vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may have received an early version of the vaccine that isn't effective and should check with their doctor about another dose.

If you're not sure where you or your kids stand, Wisconsin residents can look up their records through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. If cost is a concern, the state also offers free vaccine programs for eligible kids and adults.

Measles spent decades as a disease most of us only read about in history books, and health experts say that with a little prevention, it can stay that way.