Public health officials across the state highlight measles outbreak and what caused it
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin is facing its worst measles outbreak in a decade. As of Oct. 6, Wisconsin has now seen 258 confirmed cases of measles this year. This outbreak along with other public health challenges were discussed by public health officials from across the state for a state of public health conversation hosted by Wisconsin Health News.
The majority of the known measles cases are in four counties in southwest Wisconsin: Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Vernon are where health officials are seeing a major outbreak.
“Vaccines are a victim of their own success you know they work so well and so then people don’t think they need them,” said Julie Leibfried, director of the Lafayette County Health Department.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health in Lafayette County only about two thirds of children by the age of 2 have had one dose of the measles vaccine. That’s below the state average of 87% and well below the national target of 95%.
“People thought you know measles was eradicated from the United States. It really wasn’t eradicated. We had an elimination status, which meant we would have a handful or a few cases every year, but it just wouldn’t go anywhere because we were so immunized,” Leibfried said.
Along with that public health officials say a change in state law started lowering vaccination rates long before the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy.
“Wisconsin in the 90s when they changed the vaccine requirement laws to make it easier for families to file for an exemption for religious personal or medical we saw decreases in vaccination uptake since that moment,” said Mike Totoraitis, the commissioner of health at the Milwaukee Health Department.
Health officials say social media and misinformation have also led to lower vaccination rates. Lafayette County is hopeful that the spread of this measles outbreak is slowing.