MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A measles case was reported in Milwaukee County Friday.
The case is linked to a confirmed case in another state, and comes as DHS’ Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program also detected measles in untreated wastewater collected in Walworth County. This is the first detection of measles in wastewater in Wisconsin.
The case was exposed to measles out of state and is not linked to current confirmed cases in Waukesha County and Dane County. Due to privacy concerns, no additional personal identifying or health information will be released by DHS.
Health officials are jointly working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus. Health officials will reach out directly to individuals identified as close contacts to the individual.
The investigation has identified a public location and time where people may have been exposed.
People who traveled on Flight WN 266 from Phoenix to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (5300 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53207) or were present at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on January 29, 2026 during the time period of 10:31 p.m. to 12:31 a.m. may have been exposed to measles.
There are no known public exposure locations in Walworth County at this time.
If additional public exposure locations are identified, they will be updated on the DHS Outbreaks and Investigations webpage.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can stay in the air for two hours after a sick person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person gets it, up to 90% of the people around them may also become infected if they are not vaccinated.
Symptoms of measles typically appear approximately 10 to 21 days after exposure, and include:
-Runny nose
-High fever (may be greater than 104°F)
-Tiredness
-Cough
People can check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or contact their health provider or local health department to see if they or their child has been vaccinated to protect against measles.
Anyone who is not vaccinated against measles can get vaccinated at their regular health care provider, local clinic, or pharmacy.
Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
Measles can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, brain damage, and deafness, and can sometimes be deadly. One in four people who get measles in the United States will be hospitalized.
Anyone developing symptoms of measles should stay home (do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call their doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions to ensure other patients are not exposed to the virus.
Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR).
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