State officials have warned WCRIS about an outbreak of measles in Minnesota and its potential to spread to the Badger state.
“On September 29, 2022, the Minnesota Department of Health released a press update regarding 13 cases of measles that occurred June through September. The cases were all in unvaccinated children. While most cases had a history of travel to a country where measles is circulating, the most recent case did not report travel history. Investigators are still working to determine how transmission may have occurred,” the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reports.
Seven of the Minnesota children have been hospitalized. Measles can be very serious, can cause deafness and even lead to death. The full press release can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.
Given Minnesota’s situation and the extremely high transmissibility of measles, there is potential that additional cases can spread to communities with lower vaccination rates. Measles does not recognize state boundaries. The DPI and DHS ask schools to urge parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.
Medical experts say a 90% vaccination rate will help prevent outbreaks. The immunization rates in Wisconsin’s most populous counties are below that level. See how your county is situated by reviewing MMR vaccination rates by 24 months of age for 2021, the latest statistics available.
Find information about measles on the DHS website.
