As of August 13, 2026, there have been 15 confirmed cases of measles in Wisconsin that are part of an outbreak in nearby Iowa and Lafayette counties. Although there are no confirmed cases in Dane County or at UW–Madison, we are sharing information on measles symptoms and prevention.  

On a large college campus like UW-Madison, where people live and go to class in close proximity to one another, measles could spread quickly among people who do not have the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. We encourage all UW–Madison students and staff to check their vaccination status against measles and keep up to date on measles alerts for Wisconsin.  

Additional guidance on measles awareness and prevention is available on the UHS website. 

Why is measles a concern?  

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when a person coughs or sneezes. It can also linger in the air for some time. This means that it is easy to spread measles, even without direct contact with the infected person.  

For those who have not been vaccinated against measles, simply being in the same room with someone who has measles — even if they have no symptoms — is enough to become infected. Without the vaccine, 9 out of 10 people exposed to measles will contract the virus. If you are unvaccinated and exposed to measles, public health guidance requires you to quarantine at home for 21 days after exposure. 

What are the symptoms of measles?  

The first symptoms of measles appear 7–14 days after exposure, and a person with measles is infectious from 4 days before rash onset through 4 days after rash onset.  

Symptoms of measles include: 

• High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit)  

• Cough  

• Runny nose  

• Red, watery eyes  

• Tiny white spots (called Koplik spots) inside the mouth 

• Rash that breaks out on the face at the hairline and spreads downward on the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet 

Students experiencing symptoms of measles should contact UHS immediately at 608-265-5600. All others, contact your health care provider. To prevent exposure to others, call ahead before visiting UHS or any healthcare clinic. 

What should I do to prevent measles?  

Fortunately, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles even if you are exposed to someone with the virus. Most people received this vaccine in childhood. If you are not sure of your vaccination status, you can look it up in your state’s immunization registry. Wisconsin residents can visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. Students are required to share their vaccination status through MyUHS for measles and several other common communicable diseases. Learn more about this requirement. 

If you have not received an MMR vaccine, you are encouraged to get vaccinated through a local pharmacy, your health care provider, or, if you’re a student, through UHS. Free MMR vaccines are available to students at UHS, but supplies are limited. Public Health Madison & Dane County also provides MMR vaccination to uninsured adults.