The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Waukesha Department of Health and Human Services confirmed one case of measles Jan. 26 in Waukesha County, according to a DHS press release.
This is the first reported case of measles in 2026, according to the DHS press release.
36 cases of measles were reported in WI in 2025, in which 100% of those cases were contracted by unvaccinated individuals, resulting in two hospitalizations, according to DHS.
Due to privacy concerns, the DHS has not provided any health information regarding the patient or the specific exposure location.
According to the DHS press release, as measles cases continue to increase across the nation and internationally, Wisconsinites should check their vaccination status, especially for measles, mumps and rubella.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease that can be easily spread through its airborne properties, and such a transmissible nature can affect up to 90% of unvaccinated people surrounding that individual who contracts measles, the DHS press release said.
The DHS press release states some health complications related to measles include pneumonia, nerve damage, deafness and potentially death in severe cases.
Measles is a preventable disease through the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, and the recommended two doses of the vaccine has a 97% effectiveness rate, the DHS press release said.
A preventative rate of 97% proves significantly effective for the MMR vaccine. But, in order to control an outbreak, 92-94% of the population must be immune via vaccination or prior infection, according to UW Community and Environmental Sociology Assistant Professor Dr. Malia Jones.
“The idea is that it takes cooperation, where everybody chips in and decides to get vaccinated to maintain the status quo, which is the safety net that we have for measles currently, or herd immunity,” Jones said.
Currently, the recommended preventative measures include updating vaccination statuses and spreading awareness about measles and the dangers of the disease, according to Jones.
But, it may be difficult to control a contagious outbreak like measles, due to different percentages of children with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine by 24 months of age, Jones said.
“Waukesha County has 86% coverage for measles for the two-year-old age group, but what I worry about is if a case appears in a county like Vernon County that has less than 50% coverage,” Jones said.
