There is a measles case in Dane County: What you need to know

On February 2, 2026, we reported one confirmed case of measles in Dane County. University of Wisconsin-Madison has confirmed this person is a student. The case was likely exposed to measles during international travel and is not related to the case confirmed in Waukesha County on January 26.

Measles is a very contagious virus that spreads easily and rapidly through coughing and sneezing. If you are unvaccinated, simply being in the same room with someone who has measles is enough to get infected. Need more measles details? See our measles webpage.

There are locations in Dane County where people may have been exposed to measles.

We have identified a number of locations in Dane County where people may have been exposed, with several on the UW-Madison campus. See our measles webpage for the current list of exposure sites. We will continue to add sites there as they are identified.

If you were exposed at these locations, check your MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination status and monitor yourself for symptoms.

Check your vaccination status

• If you were vaccinated in Wisconsin: You can find your records using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) or you can call your health care provider.
• If you were vaccinated somewhere else or have incomplete records: You can reach out to the health department in the jurisdiction where you may have been vaccinated. CDC has a list of other states’ immunization information systems. You can also request serology from your doctor. This is a blood test to see if you have measles antibodies. 

If you can confirm you were vaccinated, it’s extremely unlikely you will get measles. If you are fully vaccinated, the measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing illness. Keep an eye out for measles symptoms just in case, but it’s very unlikely you will get sick. 

If you are unprotected and were exposed, you need to quarantine. 

• Unprotected means you were born in 1957 or after and are unvaccinated or have no laboratory evidence of having had measles. 
• Because measles is so infectious, if you were exposed, you will need to quarantine, which means you’ll need to stay home and not go to work, school, or any public places for up to 14 days after exposure. Call us at 608-266-4821 and tell the operator you are unprotected and were exposed to measles, and we can give you instructions.

Look out for measles symptoms for 7 to 21 days after you were exposed

• If you were exposed, you won’t get sick right away. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after contact with the virus. If, for example, you were at the Genetics building on January 27 (see our measles webpage for exact times), it may not be until February 3 or later that you have any symptoms. 
• Symptoms typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms (see pictures of the rash). The rash usually starts on the head, near the hairline, and then the rash moves down towards the rest of the body.

If you were exposed and have symptoms of measles

• Stay home. If you develop any of these symptoms, stay home and do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation. 
• Call your doctor’s office or clinic before visiting. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It’s extremely important that the office or clinic take steps to protect other people before you come to see them. 
• If you do not have a provider and are not sure how to contact a clinic, call us at 608-266-4821 (Monday-Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm). 

What if I wasn’t at any of the exposure locations?

Keep in mind that if we identify additional exposure sites, we’ll add them to our measles webpage. At this time, you do not need to worry about monitoring yourself for symptoms, but it’s always good to check that you’re up to date on your MMR and other vaccinations! 

Measles can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization. The MMR vaccine can protect you from serious illness. People who received two doses of measles vaccine as children, according to the U.S. vaccination schedule, are considered protected for life, and they do not need a booster dose.

Getting vaccinated

• We offer free vaccines to uninsured adults and children, and children with Medical Assistance. Vaccination clinics are held in various locations and are by appointment only. Make an appointment online or call 608-266-4821. 
• If you have a school aged kid 5 or older (insured or uninsured), there’s a vaccination clinic on February 7, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Holtzman Center (333 Holtzman Road, Madison). See our School Vaccination Clinics page for more details.
• You can also get vaccinated at area pharmacies and your doctor’s office.