From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— State health officials say the recent large jump in measles cases is due to the highly infectious nature of the disease and are urging residents to get vaccinated amid the ongoing outbreak.
Wisconsin has now had at least 100 cases of the measles so far this year, driven largely by the outbreak in the state’s southwestern region. That’s a substantial increase from the 42 cases reported earlier last week.
As of Friday, the latest date for which figures are available, the state has seen 92 confirmed and six probable cases across Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties. That’s in addition to two unrelated cases seen much earlier in the year in Waukesha and Dane counties.
Dr. Stephanie Schauer, immunization program manager for the state Department of Health Services, says rising case numbers show there’s “ongoing transmission” of disease from previously identified cases.
“This speaks to the very infectious nature of measles,” she said in remarks provided by DHS. “We know that about nine out of every 10 individuals who are susceptible and exposed in a setting such as a household will come down with measles … those others are likely to become sick about 10 to 14 days later.”
At the same time, additional staff from the CDC are assisting local public health workers to identify those who may have been exposed, enabling more home visits in affected communities. This is leading to other cases being found that may not otherwise have been reported, Schauer said.
As the investigation has continued, officials still haven’t identified any locations where those exposed can’t be followed up with directly, such as a store or other public place.
“So it doesn’t necessarily indicate an increase in the exposure risk to the broader public, but it is important to note, there’s been a lot of measles activity nationally this year,” she said, adding, “it’s just another good reminder to ensure that everyone in your family is protected against measles.”
Of the 100 cases identified in the state so far, 99 have been among unvaccinated people, the DHS website shows. Two cases have resulted in hospitalizations.
At the national level, at least 2,903 confirmed measles cases have been reported so far this year, according to the CDC dashboard.
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