An infant in southwestern Wisconsin has died from measles, the first such fatality in the state since 1990. The death occurs as state case numbers reach their highest level in more than 35 years.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the death on Thursday, noting that a coroner listed measles as the immediate cause. To protect the privacy of the child and their family, the department declined to release further specific details regarding the infant’s identity or location.
It is with a heavy heart we are reporting the first death of an infant connected with a measles outbreak in Wisconsin in many years. My heart is broken for the family,
Kirsten Johnson, DHS Secretary
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.
Kirsten Johnson, DHS Secretary
Wisconsin Faces Largest Outbreak in Decades
Wisconsin is currently grappling with its largest measles outbreak in over three decades. As of November 3, the state has reported 431 cases across 13 counties, according to the DHS outbreak tracker. Some officials believe this figure may be an undercount because not every infected person seeks medical care or undergoes testing.
The outbreak has led to nine hospitalizations within the state. Grant County has reported the highest number of infections with 142 cases, followed by Lafayette County with 115, News8000 reported. Other counties with confirmed cases include Chippewa, Rock, Marathon, Vernon, Dane, Waukesha, Buffalo, Richland, Marquette, and Jackson.
Unvaccinated Populations Drive Virus Spread
Health officials have linked the spread of the virus to declining immunity within the population. Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, told CNN that the virus is spreading because there are enough susceptible individuals to allow it to continue finding new hosts.
More than 99 percent of the total measles cases in Wisconsin so far in 2026 were confirmed in people who had not been vaccinated, The Capital Times reported. Other sources noted that 428 of the reported cases involved unvaccinated people.
Wisconsin’s childhood immunization rates have seen a gradual decline over time. The current average MMR vaccination rate for children in the state is about 85 percent, The Capital Times reported.
Measles Deaths Rise Across the Nation
The death in Wisconsin is the third measles-related fatality reported by state health departments in the United States this week. This follows the deaths of an infant in New York and an unvaccinated resident in rural Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, KSL News reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded four measles deaths so far this year. This follows a period of relative stability in the U.S.; CIDRAP reported that the most recent U.S. measles death prior to last year was in 2015. In 2025, three people died from measles complications in the United States.
Measles Spreads Through Air and Carries Serious Health Risks
Measles is highly contagious, with the virus capable of lingering in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has coughed or sneezed, Channel 3000 reported. Potential complications of the disease include pneumonia, permanent brain damage, deafness, and lung injury, CIDRAP reported.
Stephanie Schauer, immunization program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, stated that between 500 and 600 of these early doses have been administered to Wisconsin infants since August, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. She noted that not all of these doses are directly related to the current outbreak, as some are given to infants traveling internationally.
In response to the outbreak, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has updated its guidance to recommend an early dose of the MMR vaccine for certain infants between 6 and 11 months of age who face an increased risk of exposure. Typically, the first routine dose of the vaccine does not start until a child’s first birthday.
Earlier coverage: Child Dies From Measles in New York's First Fatality in 30 Years