JANESVILLE The Rock County Public Health Department says it has identified five potential cases of measles in Rock County that are currently confined to a single family.
The Rock County Health Department said in an announcement Tuesday that the cases havent been linked to the Southwest Wisconsin measles outbreak, and so far, the county has not identified any public exposure locations.
Bethlehem Solomon, the health departments supervisor for the communicable disease unit, said in order to link cases, health officials must find a what is called an epilink a specific location or time that connects confirmed cases to each other.
So far, an investigation shows the five Rock County cases have no established links.
The county doesnt currently have lab results that definitively confirm the measles cases, but the illnesses meet the CDCs definition for a probable case based on symptoms and symptom length.
According to the , a total of 267 cases have been identified in Wisconsin as of October 12.
Of those 267 cases, only two of the people infected were vaccinated for measles.
Solomon said she could not confirm the familys vaccination status for privacy reasons, but the county has repeatedly urged people to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to prevent the spread and potential outbreaks of measles.
The continued message from us at the local health department and from the state, is that the best way to prevent measles is the MMR measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is very safe and very effective, she said. We strongly encourage people to check their vaccination status with either their healthcare provider or through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry to to make sure that they are up to date on their vaccinations.
Measles is a contagious, but preventable, respiratory disease that can cause serious health complications. If one person has measles, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected, the release said.
The virus is through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. People with measles may experience a high fever, cough, runny nose, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth and a rash. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after a rash appears.
The MMR vaccine has been used for years to protect against measles and provides long-lasting protection against all strains of the virus. Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the virus. One dose 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. Everyone six months and older who is travelling internationally should also get the MMR vaccine at least two weeks before they travel.
Rock County residents can help prevent the spread by checking the vaccination status in the .
People can also prevent the spread of disease by practicing good hygiene, and wearing a mask and distancing when showing symptoms of illness. Residents due for vaccines should contact their primary care provider. Rock County Public Health is available to assist uninsured or underinsured citizens via phone at 608-757-5440.
For more information on measles, including the ongoing measles outbreak, visit the CDCs .