Outbreaks, Recalls, and Investigations in Wisconsin
Following is a list of selected outbreaks, recalls, and investigations with wide impact in Wisconsin.
Data about measles cases in Wisconsin can be viewed on the measles dashboard. The measles dashboard will be updated updated twice each week on Tuesday and Friday.
As of September 2, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Oconto County Public Health have identified 24 cases of measles in Oconto County. There have been two hospitalizations reported. All of the reported cases are confirmed cases.
Confirmed measles cases are cases that meet clinical criteria for measles and have been laboratory confirmed or have a direct link to a laboratory-confirmed case by location and time. Probable cases meet the clinical description of measles, but have not been laboratory confirmed or linked to a laboratory-confirmed case.
The ongoing investigation indicates that measles is spreading locally. At this time, the investigation has not identified locations in public settings for which a full list of exposed people cannot be obtained.
Those who are most at risk are those who are not vaccinated or don’t know their vaccination status. If you believe you have been exposed to measles and are not immune, remain at home and monitor for symptoms.
Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should stay home (do not see other people, including going to work, school, shopping, or using public transportation) and call their doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so staff can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. The virus can be spread through the air and through direct contact with persons who are infected. Unvaccinated young children and other non-immune adults are at highest risk of serious disease from measles.
Most Wisconsinites are vaccinated against measles as children, which provides lifetime immunity. People who have never been vaccinated and are exposed to a person with measles can spread the virus to others in the community, leading to outbreaks.
The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
Symptoms of measles generally start 10–21 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- Runny nose
- High fever (may be greater than 104 F)
- Tiredness
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
- A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
For a full description of measles, see the DHS measles fact sheet, P-42174 available in English, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish, and the DHS measles webpage and CDC measles webpage.
What to do if you think you were exposed
If you develop any symptoms of measles, stay home (do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call your doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus.
How to get vaccinated
Contact your health care provider to schedule a vaccine appointment. People with health insurance may have vaccine benefits through a pharmacy as well—check your policy. Local health departments may be able to provide MMR vaccine to uninsured adults through the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program, The Wisconsin Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) covers the cost of vaccines for eligible children. Check the VFA and VFC webpages for a provider near you.
A case of measles in a non-Wisconsin resident who was traveling through Wisconsin on August 4, 2025, has been reported. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), in coordination with St. Croix County Public Health and Rock County Public health departments, are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus.
These exposures to measles are not related to the cases previously confirmed in Wisconsin. As of August 29, 2025, 23 cases of measles have been confirmed in Wisconsin.
The investigation has identified the following exposure locations in public settings for which a full list of exposed people cannot be obtained.
Individuals who were at the following locations may have been exposed to measles.
- Flying J Travel Center #470, 1191 70th Ave., Roberts, Wisconsin on Monday, August 4, 2025, between 7:15 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Pilot Travel Center #289, 3001 Milwaukee Road, Beloit, Wisconsin on Monday, August 4, 2025, between 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
What to do if you think you were exposed
People at these locations during those dates and times should check their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination status as soon as possible.
Wisconsin residents can find their immunization records using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). Instructions can be found in the DHS fact sheet Wisconsin Immunization Registry Information for Parents, P-42154 and are available in English, Spanish, and Hmong. If you are unable to access your records, please contact your doctor’s office or your local health department.
Measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR). Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease. In general, people born before 1957 are considered immune and do not need a vaccine. All other adults without laboratory evidence of immunity should have at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and children should have two doses. Find more information about who should get a measles vaccine on the DHS measles webpage.
What to do if you think you were exposed
Anyone who was exposed to measles on August 4, 2025, would expect symptoms to start 10–21 days after exposure, or between August 14-25, 2025.
If you develop any symptoms of measles, stay home (do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call your doctor’s office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. The virus can be spread through the air and through direct contact with persons who are infected. Unvaccinated young children and other non-immune adults are at highest risk of serious disease from measles.
Most Wisconsinites are vaccinated against measles as children, which provides lifetime immunity. People who have never been vaccinated and are exposed to a person with measles can spread the virus to others in the community, leading to outbreaks.
The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
Symptoms of measles generally start 10–21 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- Runny nose
- High fever (may be greater than 104 F)
- Tiredness
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
For a full description of measles, see the DHS measles fact sheet, P-42174 available in English, Hmong, Somali, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Arabic, and Spanish, and the DHS measles webpage and CDC measles webpage.
How to get vaccinated
Contact your health care provider to schedule a vaccine appointment. People with health insurance may have vaccine benefits through a pharmacy as well—check your policy. Local health departments may be able to provide MMR vaccine to uninsured adults through the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program.
The Wisconsin Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) covers the cost of vaccines for eligible children. Check the VFA and VFC webpages for a provider near you.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is working with local, state, and federal partners to investigate multiple outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard poultry.
- According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), as of June 26, 187 people in 42 states have become infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella. Forty-two people have become hospitalized and there has been one death linked to these outbreaks.
- Wisconsin has five cases linked to one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella.
Outbreaks of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry occur every year in the U.S., including in Wisconsin residents. Many of these infections are preventable.
- Poultry, including healthy and clean backyard poultry, can have Salmonella germs in their poop and on their bodies (feathers, feet, and beaks). The germs can easily spread to their cages, coops, eggs and equipment use to care for them. People can get sick from Salmonella if they touch the birds or anything in their environment and then touch their mouth or food before washing their hands.
- Children younger than 5 years are more likely to get sick with Salmonella because their immune systems are still developing. They also are more likely to put their fingers or other items with germs in their mouths.
If you own or have contact with poultry, take these steps to reduce the risk of becoming ill with salmonellosis:
- Always wash your hands after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything within the areas in which they live or roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Don't kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don't eat or drink around them.
- Keep poultry, even when they are babies, outside your house.
- Supervise kids around flocks and don't let children younger than 5 years old touch chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry.
- Handle eggs safely.
- Call your health care provider right away if you have any of these severe symptoms:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
- Bloody stools
- Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Making very little urine
- Dry mouth and throat
- Dizziness when standing up
For more information about how to reduce your risk of getting sick:
- See our Backyard Poultry flyer, P-01788 (PDF), for more information about how to prevent these infections.
- View CDC's videos
- Information about backyard poultry can also be found on the DHS backyard poultry webpage.
See the CDC webpage for more information on this investigation, and to stay up to date on other food-borne outbreaks and recalls.
To view previous outbreaks and investigations, visit our Past Outbreaks in Wisconsin page.