PORTAGE, Wis. — Columbia County Public Health confirmed three cases of measles Wednesday as Wisconsin’s statewide count reached 431, according to tracking by the state Department of Health Services.
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County health officials investigate these cases, identify individuals who may have been exposed and notify them directly. Authorities said all confirmed and suspected cases identified so far involve people who were not vaccinated against measles.
No public exposure sites have been identified and known exposures have been limited to private gatherings.
State tracking listed nine hospitalizations and no deaths.
Measles is spread through the air, and the virus can persist for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
This can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain damage and deafness. Young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to serious illness.
Confirmed cases have also been reported in Iowa, Grant, Lafayette, Rock, Chippewa, Marathon, Vernon, Dane, Waukesha, Buffalo, Richland, Marquette and Jackson counties.
Measles cases in Wisconsin exceed 430
Symptoms include a runny nose, fever that can exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit, fatigue, cough, and red, watery eyes. A red rash with raised bumps usually starts at the hairline and spreads to the arms and legs three to five days after other symptoms begin. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure.
The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine, provides the best protection against measles.
Health authorities reported 36 cases of measles last year.
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