Wisconsin records first measles-related death in over 35 years
An infant in Wisconsin has died in connection with a large, ongoing measles outbreak, the state health department said Thursday. The death marks the state’s first measles-related death in more than 35 years and the third reported in the US this week, reports BritPanorama.
The health department confirmed that the coroner listed the immediate cause of death as measles, although further details about the child will not be released to protect the family’s privacy. Kirsten Johnson, secretary of the state’s health department, expressed her condolences, stating, “My heart is broken for the family. Any death of a child is a tragedy and even more so when it is related to a vaccine-preventable disease.”
Wisconsin is currently experiencing its largest measles outbreak in over three decades, with 431 cases reported across 13 counties as of Thursday. Officials have warned that the actual number of cases is likely higher since not all individuals seek medical care for the illness.
Nine individuals in the state have required hospitalization as a result of the outbreak. While measles can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis for anyone infected, those at higher risk include children under five, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women.
The state is urging residents who have not been vaccinated to receive the measles vaccine, as two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are 97% effective in preventing the disease. This year, there have already been three measles-related deaths reported in the US.
In Pennsylvania, another tragic case was confirmed, where an unvaccinated resident succumbed to the virus, marking the sixth measles-related death in that state this year.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,800 measles cases have been reported nationwide in 2025, the highest number since 1991, prior to the disease being declared eliminated in the US. An international meeting is scheduled for next week to address the status of measles elimination efforts in the country.
The urgency of vaccination in the face of this outbreak underscores the critical need for public health measures to combat preventable diseases.
