Wisconsin reports first measles death since 1990

Wisconsin reported Thursday that an infant died in connection to the ongoing measles outbreak — the state’s first measles-related death in more than 30 years.

The state’s Division of Public Health (DPH) with the Department of Health Services said in a statement that the coroner had listed the immediate cause of death as measles.

“It is with a heavy heart we are reporting the first death of an infant connected with a measles outbreak in Wisconsin in many years. My heart is broken for the family,” Wisconsin’s Health Secretary Kirsten Johnson said in a statement.

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

As of Thursday, Wisconsin has confirmed 431 cases of measles and nine related hospitalizations.

Wisconsin now joins Pennsylvania and New York as states that have reported measles-associated deaths in 2026. Pennsylvania on Wednesday confirmed a sixth measles death , though CDC data is not yet reflecting the total reported by states.

Wisconsin ranks among the states with the lowest coverage of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. According to DPH, 79.8 percent of children had received one or more doses of the MMR vaccine by the time they were 24 months old.

The state is currently fourth in terms of absolute number of measles cases nationally, behind Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Utah.

Most of Wisconsin’s measles cases are concentrated in the state’s southwestern region. DPH data indicates there are counties in that region where fewer children aged 2 or younger are vaccinated against measles, with Vernon County reporting a coverage rate of 42.3 percent in 2025. Neighboring counties like Crawford, Richland and Monroe have MMR vaccination rates in the 60-percent range.