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Second Wisconsin Child Dies from Measles as Outbreak Spreads to 20 Counties
A second child has died from measles in Wisconsin as the state grapples with its worst outbreak in over 35 years, with at least 649 confirmed cases across 20 counties. Health officials are urging vaccination as rates fall below the herd immunity threshold.
A second child in Wisconsin has died from measles, state health officials reported Friday, as an outbreak that has infected at least 649 people across 20 counties continues to widen.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said the death occurred in Grant County, in the southwestern corner of the state. The agency withheld demographic details about the child to protect the family's privacy.
The death follows the Nov. 5 report of an infant's death from measles. Together, they mark the first measles fatalities in Wisconsin in years and underscore the severity of an outbreak that has produced the highest case count in the state in more than 35 years.
Because not everyone who contracts measles seeks medical care or gets tested, the official tally likely understates the true spread of the virus, DHS said.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, spreading through the air and through close contact. It typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed several days later by a red rash over the body. In some cases, it leads to permanent disability or death.
"It can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia and swelling of the brain," DHS said in its announcement. "Although anyone can become seriously ill, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of complications."
The state health department is working with local and tribal health departments and other health care providers to identify cases, trace infections, test for the virus and support vaccination efforts.
Vaccination remains the most effective defense against measles, but immunization rates in Wisconsin have fallen below the 95% threshold that public health experts say is needed to ensure widespread protection through herd immunity.
The Wisconsin outbreaks are part of a broader national resurgence. This week, a consensus of medical experts concluded that measles can no longer be considered "eliminated" in the United States, according to reporting by The New York Times.
The resurgence has alarmed public health officials who had considered measles effectively vanquished in the U.S. two decades ago. Falling vaccination rates, driven in part by misinformation about vaccine safety, have left pockets of the country vulnerable to outbreaks that can spread rapidly through schools, child care centers and other gathering places.
For Wisconsin families, the practical advice from health officials is clear: check vaccination records, especially for young children, and contact a health care provider about catching up on missed doses. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective, and two doses provide about 97% protection against the virus.
State and local health departments are urging anyone with symptoms â fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes or a rash â to call ahead before visiting a clinic or emergency room so that staff can take precautions to prevent further spread.
The two child deaths have shaken communities across the state and intensified calls for a renewed focus on immunization. Public health experts say the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the outbreak can be brought under control before it reaches more vulnerable populations.