MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed the first cases of measles in Oconto County. 

One case was confirmed through testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, with eight additional cases confirmed based on exposure and symptoms. DHS reported all of the cases were exposed to a common source during out-of-state travel. 

DHS in coordination with Oconto Public Health is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus. No further information will be released due to privacy laws. 

At this time, no public points of exposure have been identified and the risk to the community remains low. 

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person gets it, up to 90% of the people around them may also become infected if they are not vaccinated.

Symptoms of measles typically appear approximately 10 to 21 days after exposure, and include:

  • Runny nose
  • High fever (may be greater than 104°F)
  • Tiredness
  • Cough
  • Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
  • A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin. 

Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should stay home (not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call their doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions to ensure other patients are not exposed to the virus.

Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR). Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease.

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