JANESVILLE — A Dane County resident spent time in Milton and Janesville while infectious with the measles, the Rock County Public Health Department says in an advisory.
The health department is working with Public Health Madison and Dane County, SSM Health and Wisconsin Department of Health Services to contact-trace to determine who may have been exposed.
Those exposed to the virus may have been at Kwik Trip, 603 W. Madison Ave., in Milton, on April 21 between 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m.; SSM Health Dean Medical Group, 3200 E. Racine St., Janesville, on April 22 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; or SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, 3200 E. Racine St. Janesville, on April 23, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“Anyone at these locations during these dates and times should check their vaccination status,” Molly Mueller, communications specialist for Rock County Public Health, said in a statement.
Immunization records can be found at www.dhfswir.org.
“Anyone who is unvaccinated and was at these locations should stay home and contact RCPH or their local health department for guidance,” Mueller wrote.
SSM Health is working to contact any known patient who may have been exposed to measles while on the campus Monday afternoon or Tuesday by MyChart or phone.
“The measles vaccine is highly effective. Fully vaccinated people are at low risk of contracting measles even with exposures to a contagious person,” Mueller wrote.
According to the statement, anyone who develops measles symptoms including a cough, high fever, runny nose or watery eyes should call their primary care provider or contact them via MyChart and let them know about possible exposure to measles. Anyone having severe symptoms that require immediate care should call urgent care or an emergency room before seeing care so proper precautions can be arranged.
The measles virus is commonly spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can remain infectious in the air on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms of measles can appear from 7-21 days post-exposure.
People with measles may experience a high fever, cough, runny nose, tiny white spos (Koplik spots) inside the mouth and a rash. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through fourdays after a rash appears.
“The best protection against measles is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine has been used for years to protect against measles and provides long-lasting protection against all strains of the virus,” Mueller wrote.
Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective against all strains of the virus. One dose of the vaccine is about 93% effective.
“All children should get two doses of MMR, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second at four through six years old,” Mueller wrote. “Everyone six months and older who are travelling internationally should also get the MMR vaccine at least two weeks before they travel.”
Mueller added that residents should help prevent measles in the county by “using common respiratory virus prevention like practicing good hygiene, or wearing a mask and physical distancing if you are sick. If you or your child are due for vaccines, contact your healthcare provider.”
Those who are uninsured or underinsured may contact the public health department at 608-757-5440 for vaccine information. Those who need assistance finding a doctor or community clinic may call 211.
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