Confirmed Measles Case at UW–Madison

Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that typically appears 3–5 days after symptoms begin. 

For every one person who gets measles, up to 18 unvaccinated people will become infected. That makes measles about 9 times more infectious than COVID-19. However, measles is highly preventable. About 94% of cases have been among people who are unvaccinated or didn’t know their vaccine status.  

Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through respiratory droplets and can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours. Being exposed to measles happens when you are in the same area as someone who has measles or in that area for up to two hours after the infected person left. Simply being in the same room with someone who has measles — even if they do not have visible symptoms — is enough to become infected if you have not received the measles vaccine.  

Many people received a series of two MMR vaccines when they were a child. The MMR vaccine is a common requirement for public schools because of the serious health effects of measles and how contagious it is. The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and is our most important tool to prevent infection and further spread of the disease.  

If you are from Wisconsin, you can check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. If you are from another U.S. state, navigate to your state’s immunization website using this portal. You may also contact your primary care provider to obtain your records.

If you have not received two doses of the MMR vaccine, vaccination is strongly recommended. If the MMR vaccine is given within 72 hours of exposure, it may reduce the risk of developing measles or result in a milder illness. Even if more than 72 hours have passed, vaccination is still recommended to protect against future exposure and help prevent further spread on campus. Vaccination does not provide immediate protection from the current exposure, which is why quarantine is still required until your immunity status is reviewed and you are officially cleared.

Where to get a vaccine:

• Students: Students can receive the MMR vaccine at UHS for a fee. Many immunizations administered at UHS, including the MMR vaccine, are fully covered for members and spouses/partners under the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). You can also receive the vaccine at local Madison pharmacies or your health care provider. 
• Employees: If you are a university employee, please contact Occupational Medicine at (608) 265-5610 if you have questions about your immune status, require vaccination, or need guidance regarding work exclusion or return-to-work clearance. You can also receive the vaccine at local Madison pharmacies or your health care provider.

If you were at one of the identified locations during the time periods, you may have been exposed and should quarantine if not vaccinated against measles. UHS is notifying students and staff who are required to quarantine based on their risk level.

Quarantine means that: 

• You must stay home and avoid close contact with others.  

• You cannot attend class, work, or extracurricular activities.  

• You cannot do any other activities in public, including grocery shopping or exercising.   

• Do not travel using public transportation like buses, Uber/Lift, airplanes, or trains.