Child dies of measles in Wisconsin's first such death since 1990
[November 06, 2026]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An infant in southwestern Wisconsin has died
after contracting measles, the state’s first death from the disease in
36 years, state officials announced Thursday.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services did not specify where the
death happened or provide any additional details to protect the privacy
of the family.
The coroner listed the cause of death as measles, state health officials
said.
“My heart is broken for the family,” said Kirsten Johnson, secretary of
the state health department. “Any death of a child is a tragedy and even
more so when it is related to a vaccine-preventable disease.”
The U.S. stopped the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining
high vaccination rates, but they have fallen in recent years to below
the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks of the viral disease.
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 The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has confirmed four measles-associated deaths in the U.S.
this year, but state health departments have reported higher
numbers. In Pennsylvania alone, health officials have reported five
deaths this year and are investigating a possible sixth.
As of Thursday, Wisconsin reported 431 cases of measles, all but
three in unvaccinated people. Nine people had been hospitalized.
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