A UW-Madison student has contracted measles in the second case in 26 years in Wisconsin

The student visited many places on and off campus while being contagious.Unvaccinated people are at greater risk.

UW-Madison student catches measles after international exposure

A UW-Madison student has contracted measles, according to a Feb. 2 email sent to the campus community.This is the second case of measles in Wisconsin this year.

According to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the person was exposed to measles during international travel.The case is not related to a Waukesha County resident measles case reported Jan. 26, which was also acquired during international travel.

It is not known whether UW-Madison students or Waukesha County residents have been vaccinated against measles.Health officials sometimes refuse to share this information for privacy reasons if the number of cases is low.

The student is staying in an off-campus apartment in Madison and is recovering after receiving treatment, but visited several locations on and off campus during the infection, according to an email from University of Madison Health Services.

University officials have directly notified 4,000 people who may have been exposed to measles, University Health Services Director Jake Baggott said at a Feb. 2 news conference.Most have received measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

Measles is a highly contagious disease.Those most at risk are those who have not received the vaccine, which is 97 percent effective in preventing infection.An email to the campus community listed dates and times in late January when the student visited five locations where public exposure may have occurred.

Those places were:

- Cadoba, 2 n. Park St.

-Brogden Psychological Building, 1202 W. Johnson St.

- Weisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave.

- Genetics Building - Biotechnology Center Building, 425 Henry Mall.

- Union South, 1308 W. Dayton St.

According to the email, people who may have the infection but have been vaccinated do not need to quarantine, but should watch for early symptoms, including a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.People who have not received the drops and are believed to have been infected should be quarantined for 21 days after the date of exposure.

All four campus locations “are safe for normal work and campus business operations at this time,” according to the email.

The Department of State Health, University Health Services and Public Health Madison Dane County will continue to inform people who may have been open.

Anyone with symptoms should stay home and call their health care provider before visiting their doctor's office, the state health department said.

The incident comes as the United States is experiencing a growing measles epidemic and a number of cases not seen in decades.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of January 29, 588 measles cases have been reported nationwide.

Measles was last reported in Dane County in 2024.

UW-Madison recommends, but does not require, that students be vaccinated against measles.The university considered it a requirement in 2019 but in the end it did not change.

The University also does not require students to submit immunization records.Bagot said data at the school shows a "highly immunized population" and about 95% of those people are vaccinated against measles.This is the limit that health experts say provides maximum protection against the disease.

This article has been updated to include new information.

Kelly Meyerhofer from the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal contributed this story.

Madeleine Heim covers health and environmental issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Contact her at 920-996-7266 or [email protected].