WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – Health officials are investigating a confirmed case of measles after a person visited the emergency department at Marshfield Medical Center – Weston, the Marathon County Health Department announced.
The county health department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Department of Health said a possible exposure occurred at the emergency department, 3400 Ministry Parkway in Weston, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5.
What to do if you have been exposed
The Department of Health says people who were in the emergency room during this time and who are immunized through vaccination or previous measles infection are well protected and at low risk of infection. They should monitor symptoms and call a health care provider if they develop a fever or rash.
People who are not immunized should ask a healthcare professional if vaccination or post-exposure medication is recommended. This is especially important for people at high risk of complications.
Anyone with measles symptoms should stay home and avoid work, school, stores and public transportation. Officials said people should notify their health care provider before visiting so precautions can be taken to avoid exposing other patients.
Those who are unsure of their vaccination status can contact a health care provider or check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
For people who were in the emergency room during the exposure window and are not immunized, symptoms would likely appear between November 11 and 25. People with weakened immune systems may experience symptoms earlier.
Vaccination clinic
The Marathon County Health Department will offer a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, November 8 at the health department. Participants must park in lot D or E and enter through gate 28.
People who were in the emergency department during the exposure window and are not immunized from vaccination or prior infection are eligible to receive the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine at the clinic.
Vaccines will be provided free of charge, interpretation services will be available and insurance information will not be required.
For people who have been exposed and are not immune, receiving the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure may protect against measles or result in milder illness.
Measles Symptoms and Prevention
Symptoms usually begin seven to 21 days after exposure and can include a runny nose, high fever that can exceed 104 degrees, fatigue, cough, and red, watery eyes. A red rash with raised bumps begins at the hairline and spreads to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
Measles is contagious about four days before the rash appears until four days after it begins, and people can spread the virus before they have symptoms or know they are sick, authorities said.
Complications can occur even in healthy people. Infants and children under 5, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk, authorities said.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective and provide long-lasting protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Ministry of Health said the community would be informed if additional public exposure locations were identified or if deaths associated with measles were confirmed. Wisconsin measles data is updated Tuesdays and Fridays. More information is available on the Marathon County Measles page and the Department of Health Facebook page.
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