An ongoing measles outbreak has claimed the life of a Wisconsin infant, the first measles-related death the state has had in nearly 40 years.
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The state's Department of Health Services announced on Nov. 5 that the infant died in southwestern Wisconsin. The coroner listed the direct cause of death as measles. To protect the privacy of the infant's family, no further details were released.
According to The New York Post, this is the first measles death for the state since 1990.
"My heart is broken for the family," Kirsten Johnson, secretary of the state's health department, said in a statement via CNN. "Any death of a child is a tragedy, and even more so when it is related to a vaccine-preventable disease. Measles can cause serious illness and death, and it is important for all Wisconsinites to evaluate their risk and take steps to protect themselves and their family."
Measles can cause life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and brain swelling. Anyone can become seriously ill, but children under 5, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks.
Nine Wisconsin Residents Have Been Hospitalized After Contracting Measles
Wisconsin is facing its largest measles outbreak in over 30 years. By Nov. 5, 431 cases had been reported in 13 counties. However, the actual number is likely higher because not everyone seeks medical care. Reportedly, 9 of the reported cases in the state required hospitalization.
Last year, Wisconsin reportedly had only 36 measles cases.
Meanwhile, the state urges unvaccinated people to get vaccinated. Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97% effective against measles. CNN reports that Wisconsin kindergarteners' MMR vaccination rate is about 85%. That is reportedly below the roughly 95% needed to prevent measles from spreading.
Wisconsin's chief medical officer and state epidemiologist for communicable diseases, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, pointed out that declining vaccination rates may be the cause of the current outbreak.
"That's really the central issue here: Measles is now spreading because there are enough people who are susceptible to infection for the virus to continue finding new hosts," Dr. Westergaard explained, per CNN.
Wisconsin now recommends an early MMR dose for infants 6-11 months old at increased risk of measles exposure. MMR vaccination normally starts at age one.
CNN also reports that the United States hadn't had a measles-related death for years leading into 2025. This past week, there have already been 3 measles-related deaths, with one each in New York and Pennsylvania, joining the Wisconsin death.
