Wisconsin reports measles death of a baby, first death in over 35 years

An infant in Wisconsin has died of measles, the first measles death in the state since 1990, officials reported Thursday. The death comes amid an outbreak in the Badger State that has stricken over 430 people across 13 counties this year.

“Any death of a child is a tragedy, and even more so when it is related to a vaccine-preventable disease,” Wisconsin Health Secretary Kirsten Johnson said in a statement. “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.”

The baby’s death is the third measles fatality nationally just this week, following the death of a New York child reported on Monday and another death in Pennsylvania reported on Wednesday. The Pennsylvania death was of an unvaccinated person in Jefferson County; the state health department did not provide additional details, such as the age of the person. The state’s explosive, ongoing measles outbreak has led to 1,467 cases so far this year.

In all, there have been nine reported measles deaths this year in the US, eight of which have been confirmed by state officials. The deaths include the baby’s death in Wisconsin, the child’s death in New York, and seven deaths (six confirmed) in Pennsylvania, including two babies, a healthy teen, and several adults with underlying health conditions.

National context

As of November 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 5,182 measles cases in the US this year across 47 states and jurisdictions. The CDC is reporting four measles deaths, though it’s unclear which of the reported deaths the CDC has counted.

The national case and death tallies are the highest recorded since 1991, though the reported cases likely represent a significant undercount of actual cases. As Wisconsin health officials noted in the announcement of the baby’s death, “Not everyone who becomes ill seeks medical care or gets tested, which means cases may go unreported.” This is particularly true given that large outbreaks, including the one ongoing in Pennsylvania, have struck in tight-knit religious communities that are less likely to seek conventional medical care.