An infant has died from measles in Wisconsin as health officials report a growing outbreak that has brought the state’s case total to its highest level in more than 35 years.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) confirmed the death, saying the infant was connected to the ongoing outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin. A coroner determined measles was the immediate cause of death. Officials have not released the child’s age or other details, citing the family’s privacy.
The death is the first of its kind reported in Wisconsin since 1990, according to the DHS. The agency said measles can cause severe complications, including pneumonia and swelling of the brain, with children younger than 5 among those at increased risk.
As of Nov. 3, Wisconsin had recorded 431 measles cases across 13 counties in 2026. Nine people have required hospitalization because of severe symptoms.
The outbreak is concentrated in southwestern Wisconsin, where 362 confirmed and 6 probable cases have been reported across Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Vernon counties. Another outbreak in Chippewa County has resulted in 44 confirmed cases. Additional infections have been reported in several other counties and are not connected to the southwestern outbreak, according to state health officials.
DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson said the agency was heartbroken by the infant’s death and urged residents to take precautions against the highly contagious disease.
Health officials say vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are approximately 97% effective at preventing infection.
More than 42,000 MMR vaccine doses have been administered by health care providers across Wisconsin since Aug. 1. The DHS has also supplied 2,000 doses to local health departments in communities with confirmed cases.
The department is urging residents to check their vaccination records and contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms after a possible exposure. People who suspect they have measles are advised to call ahead before visiting a medical facility to avoid exposing others.