Measles case confirmed in Crawford County
The Crawford County Health Department, in partnership with the Wisconsin of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed a case of measles in a Crawford County resident through laboratory testing.
The Health Department is working to identify anyone who may have been exposed and provide guidance to help prevent further spread of the disease.
People who are most at risk are those who are not vaccinated or don’t know their vaccination status. If you are unsure if you are vaccinated against measles, contact your health care provider, the health department or the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/wir . If you develop symptoms, call your health care provider before going into the clinic.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes. It can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, brain damage, deafness, and can sometimes be deadly.
Symptoms of measles typically appear approximately 10 to 12 (with a range of 7–21 days) days after exposure, and include:
Runny nose
High fever (may be greater than 104°F)
Tiredness
Cough
Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
If you develop any symptoms of measles, stay home (do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call your doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus.
The best way to protect against measles is to get vaccinated with the mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Vaccine recommendations are as follows:
Children receive one MMR vaccine dose between 12–15 months of age and a second dose between 4–6 years of age. The recommended two-dose series is 97% effective in preventing measles.
As of November 3, 2026, DHS now recommends early MMR vaccination for some children who live in communities affected by measles. Early MMR vaccination is recommended only for children at increased risk of measles exposure. Eligibility for early vaccination should be determined by a healthcare provider or other qualified vaccine professionals.
People born before 1957 are considered immune to measles.
All other adults without laboratory evidence of immunity should have at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine.
For more information on who should get a measles vaccine visit the DHS measles webpage, dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/measles . The MMR vaccine is available at area health care providers, local clinics, local health departments, and some pharmacies.
This is an ongoing investigation. Any updates will be posted to the DHS Outbreaks and Investigations page.
