On Feb. 2, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was confirmed to have tested positive for the measles (rubeola) virus. 

Although unrelated, this case and the other confirmed case in Wisconsin in 2026, from Waukesha County, both allegedly contracted the virus from international travel. There is confirmation of a third Measles case in Milwaukee as of Friday Feb. 6, from the General Mitchell International Airport. 

While the numbers are low, it’s enough to encourage extra vigilance. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recommends residents to check their vaccination statuses and to know the symptoms and quarantine measures. 

If you were exposed to the measles virus, regardless of vaccination status, the Wisconsin DHS encourages you to begin quarantine seven days after exposure. 

If you show symptoms, you must quarantine for at least four days until you are no longer contagious. Symptoms include rash, fever, cough, and runny nose. If you are exposed to measles, these symptoms will occur anywhere from 7-14 days after exposure. 

After seven days, it’s recommended to get an IgG (Immunoglobulin G) test. A positive test indicates present immunity (vaccinated folks have this, which is why it is important to test after seven days to ensure no onset of infection), which means quarantine is not necessary. A negative test will result in a quarantine for a remaining 14 days, or until 21 days after the last exposure (Wisconsin DHS). 

This year alone, there have been 733 confirmed cases in the US, with 546 cases in South Carolina. Around 95% of total measles cases this year have an unknown or unvaccinated status for the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine (CDC). 

_{Featured image: Betty Cavicchia’28}