While the situation is worrisome, measles is highly preventable with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. For context, about 94% of cases were among people who are unvaccinated or didn’t know their vaccine status. That’s why we’re encouraging you to help us stay prepared by sharing your vaccination records in MyUHS.

If a vaccine-preventable illness like measles occurred on campus, state public health laws require students to quarantine if we don’t have proof of immunity. If you’re living on campus, you could be asked to return home or find space outside the residence halls at your own expense.

Check your vaccination status 

Many students received a series of 2 MMR vaccines when they were kids. The MMR vaccine is a common requirement for public schools because of the serious health effects of measles and how contagious it is. 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. 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 haven’t received 2-doses of the MMR vaccine, you are highly recommended to get vaccinated. UHS provides MMR vaccines for a cost. Vaccines are also available at local Madison pharmacies. 

Upload your record to MyUHS 

Once you check your MMR vaccine status, please let UHS know by uploading your records to MyUHS. This is important because it helps our campus stay prepared as we continue to monitor infectious disease activity. In the event of an outbreak, we can then quickly identify students who are unvaccinated and at high risk for measles.

1. Login to MyUHS 
2. Once logged in, go to Medical Clearances. Click Update next to Immunization Record. Upload a file that includes your records along with your full name and date of birth. 
3. Next, click Update next to Measles. Add Immunization under Vaccine History entering the Date and Immunization. Complete this process two times to reflect the full measles vaccination series.  

After that, your vaccine records will be reviewed by UHS staff members. Please note: You will continue to see “Not Compliant” under Status and along with “Awaiting Review” under Details while your records are under review. This assures you that you have uploaded your records correctly. Your Status will update once the records are reviewed.

While this is worrisome, measles is highly preventable with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. For context, among the over 200 cases, about 94% of them were among people who are unvaccinated. With spring break just around the corner, it’s important to prepare for any upcoming travel and take the proper steps to protect your health and the health of others. 

Check your vaccination status 

Many students received a series of 2 MMR vaccines when they were kids. The MMR vaccine is a common requirement for public schools because of the serious health effects of measles and how contagious it is. 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. 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, visit the CDC website for ways to locate your vaccination records. Your home health care provider or a parent can also help you locate your vaccination records to check for the MMR vaccine (which is a 2-dose series). 

If you haven’t received 2-doses of the MMR vaccine, you are highly recommended to get vaccinated. UHS provides MMR vaccines for a cost. Vaccines are also available at local Madison pharmacies. 

Upload your record to MyUHS 

Once you check your MMR vaccine status, please let UHS know by uploading your records to MyUHS. This is important because it helps our campus stay prepared as we continue to monitor infectious disease activity. In the event of an outbreak, we can then quickly identify students who are unvaccinated and at high risk for measles. Since measles is so infectious, in the event of an outbreak, any exposed students without documented proof of 2 doses of MMR vaccine would have to quarantine to prevent further spread.  

1. Login to MyUHS 
2. Once logged in, go to Medical Clearances. Click Update next to Immunization Record. Upload a file that includes your records along with your full name and date of birth. 
3. Next, click Update next to Measles. Add Immunization under Vaccine History entering the Date and Immunization. 

After that, your vaccine records will be reviewed by UHS staff members. Thank you for doing your part to keep yourself, and campus, healthy. 

Approximately 95 students had enrolled in these programs to date.

The health and safety of UW–Madison participants remains our number one priority. UW Study Abroad, in conjunction with other University of Wisconsin administrators as well as internal and external experts, continues to closely monitor and review developments related to COVID-19 and travel safety as they become known, and will provide updates and further guidance as needed.

Dear UW-Madison faculty and staff,

I am requesting your support in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 (or novel coronavirus) in our community. We’re reminding those faculty and staff who are either planning or returning from international trips to follow a set of additional precautions.

• For those faculty and staff returning from Italy, South Korea and mainland China or any other country under a Level 3 CDC Travel Health Notice, when you arrive home, you should not return to the workplace for 14 days. To protect the community, you should self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) during this time. This guidance applies to both personal and business-related trips. Self-quarantine or isolation means staying at home and not going to your workplace, campus or out in your community. Please contact your supervisor or HR representative for more information about remote work and leave options; campus policies for these remain in effect.
• For those returning from any location under a Level 2 CDC Travel Health Notice, we advise that when you arrive home, you self-monitor for 14 days for symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath).
• If you develop symptoms, please call your health provider before going to seek care.
• In addition, if you have upcoming international travel plans for either Spring Break or other business-related reasons, it is advisable to reconsider them. There could be substantial travel delays and/or new restrictions, along with possible prolonged isolation when you return home, with significant impact on your personal and professional plans.

The CDC maintains a travel information website related to COVID-19, and specifically recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to countries at Warning Level 3. If you have travel insurance, you may want to review your plan to ensure it does not exclude pandemic outbreaks. UW-Madison’s CISI international health and medical insurance policy specifically excludes security evacuation due to the risk of pandemic/epidemic disease, although the medical evacuation benefit for a traveler who falls ill due to disease and requires further care remains intact under the policy.

UW–Madison continues to actively monitor this global health crisis, while also planning ahead to mitigate the impact should it spread more widely. UW-Madison is also reviewing plans in case of large-scale absenteeism of faculty and staff and how it could impact the semester.

To help prevent the spread of any disease, University Health Services recommends following these general best health practices to prevent sickness:

• Wash hands often with soap and water
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home when sick
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and cough and sneeze into your elbow

If you have any questions about these recommendations, please contact your school, college or unit human resources representative. Additional guidance may be forthcoming.

Information about COVID-19 is available at the UHS COVID-19 informational website on uhs.wisc.edu.  This comprehensive website has resources, updates, and answers commonly asked questions about COVID-19.

I appreciate everyone’s support during this challenging situation. Our goal is to work together to ensure our students, faculty and staff, our campus and our community remain safe.

Jake Baggott
Executive Director, University Health Services
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Health and Wellbeing

To our campus community,

As COVID-19 – previously known as 2019 novel coronavirus – continues to spread across the world, we want to share that the risk to UW–Madison faculty, staff, and students remains low.

UW–Madison continues to actively monitor this global health crisis in collaboration with Public Health Madison & Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Anyone believed to be at risk for COVID-19 will be contacted by Public Health Madison & Dane County.

Under guidance from the CDC, UW–Madison has suspended university-sponsored programming in Italy, South Korea, and mainland China. Students who were overseas have been advised to return to their permanent address in the United States, to self-quarantine for 14 days (stay home and do not go to work, classes, athletic events, or other social gatherings) and to monitor for fever, cough, and difficulty breathing following their arrival. We do not anticipate the majority of these students returning immediately to the UW–Madison campus. The university is providing direct support and resource information to all students who will be transitioning back to the U.S.

The CDC and Wisconsin health officials shared this week that the United States is preparing for the possibility of widespread transmission. In this event, plans might include the limiting of campus activities. University Health Services (UHS) is continuing to collaborate with public health partners and area health care providers to make sure that should a case present itself, the campus is able to limit or prevent further spread.

UW–Madison is also preparing through the efforts of health and safety leaders from across campus. Dating back to H1N1 in 2009, we have a set of protocols and plans that we’re in the process of reviewing and updating.

So what else should you do to protect yourself?

At this time, UHS recommends following general best health practices to prevent sickness:

• Wash hands often with soap and water

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Stay home when sick

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and cough and sneeze into your elbow.

Continue to visit the UHS COVID-19 informational website on uhs.wisc.edu. This comprehensive website has resources, updates, and answers commonly asked questions about COVID-19. Please take time to review the FAQs.

It’s important to keep in mind that we’re all in this together and need to continue to act with empathy and understanding. COVID-19 is not specific to an ethnicity or race. No one should be discriminated against or harassed based on their identity or travel history. If you experience discrimination or harassment, we encourage you to report it so appropriate action can be taken. Students may contact the Dean of Students Office or the Office of Compliance and employees may contact their human resources representative or the Office of Compliance.

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide additional updates to the campus community.

Jake Baggott
Executive Director, University Health Services
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Health and Well-being

If you plan on drinking: Know your limits. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water; avoid over-indulging in the sun as it can dehydrate you faster; keep an eye on your friends if they’ve had too much to drink; and know who to call in case of a medical emergency.

If you’ll be in the sun, wear sunscreen (applies to mountain tops, too!): Lather on a SPF 30 or higher every two hours and limit your exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Follow this advice and you’ll be more likely to glow than bake.

Let’s talk about sex:
Don’t feel comfortable? Don’t do it. Always get consent from your partner; carry and use condoms; if someone in your group experiences a sexual assault, call 800-656-HOPE for a rape crisis service near you, or in Madison, contact the Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour hotline: 608-251-RAPE. Before or after break, students who are interested in getting tested for sexually transmitted infections can call 608-265-5600 or make an appointment through MyUHS.

Stay with friends and be skeptical of strangers: Avoid walking alone at night and know where your friends are; be aware of your surroundings; and remember that there is a difference between making new friends and being alone with a stranger.

If you’re leaving Madison: Make sure your residence is secure: lock your doors and windows and secure valuable items such as laptops, bikes, and scooters. Let your friends and relatives know where you will be and when you expect to return; call friends or family members to let them know that you have arrived and returned safely.

If you’re traveling outside of the U.S.: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) here; respect the people, culture, and laws of the country in which you’re a guest; learn about any recommended health precautions here.

Depending on your destination, you may have to reach difficult decisions to change or even cancel plans to ensure your own well-being and timely return to Madison.

In many countries, there may be new entry and exit control measures, and even quarantines implemented with very little notice during the coming weeks. These actions could severely impact your plans and/or delay your return home with personal cost.

Because this situation is likely to continue to rapidly change in the weeks ahead, we highly encourage you to check both U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control websites to find updated guidance for your destination as well as for those countries you may plan to transit.

For more information, read Chancellor Blank’s message.

Other reminders:

• Check out Travel Clinic page and determine which kind of travel appointment you need.
• Schedule your appointment on MyUHS at least one to two months in advance of your departure date, as some vaccinations take a month to develop immunity.
• Some travel services and vaccines have a fee. Check with your insurance  provider to determine if travel vaccinations are covered and the most appropriate place to obtain these.

Whether it is an international flight or spending time in another country, anyone who is not vaccinated is at risk of getting infected or putting others at risk when they travel internationally, even if just for Spring Break.

It is important to evaluate your travel risk if you are:

1. Participating in an overseas mission or voluntaeer program
2. Planning an international adventure or vacation
3. Visiting a friend or relatives in another country
4. Studying abroad

What to do:
Review your immunization status and make sure your vaccinations are current before traveling outside the US, particularly your measles vaccination. You can check your record by logging into your MyUHS account. If your UHS record is not up-to-date, check with your childhood and/or current healthcare provider to obtain records.

If you need vaccinations, check with your insurance to determine the most appropriate place to obtain your travel vaccinations and if they are covered.

For more information about the travel clinic and consultation, view the travel section of the UHS website.

Basic first-aid items

• Bandaids
• Elastic wrap for sprains
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Tweezers (not allowed in your carry-on)
• Digital thermometer
• 1% hydrocortisone cream
• Moleskin for blisters
• Lubricating eye drops

Medicines

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil) and/or Naproxen (Aleve) for pain or fever
• Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)
• Loperamide (Immodium AD)
• Oral rehydration solution packets
• Antihistamine (Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Loratadine)
• Decongestant (alone or in combination with antihistamine)
• Cough drops

Personal medications

When traveling with medications, make sure you carry them in their original containers with clear labels, so it’s clear what medicines they are. If you are carrying any controlled substances or injectable medicines, carry a note on letterhead stationery from your doctor to explain your reason for having this medicine.

• Any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you take on a regular or intermittent basis
• Anti-malaria drugs, if needed
• Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea, if needed

Other important items

• Insect repellent/wipes (Deet 30–50%)
• Sunscreen (at least SPF 30)
• Antibacterial hand wipes or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol)
• Clothes pins (2–3)
• Extra contact lenses and extra pair of glasses.
• Water purification tablets
• Latex condoms, other contraceptives

Make a medical contact card that includes:

• Address/phone numbers of area hospitals or clinics; see Doctors/Hospitals Abroad (U.S. Department of State)
• Address/phone number of the American Embassy or Consulate in your destination; see web sites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions (U.S. Department of State)