Officials in Wisconsin are alerting the public about potential exposure to measles at two travel stops following a visit from an out-of-state traveler. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed that individuals who were at the Flying J Travel Center in Roberts and the Pilot Travel Center in Beloit on August 4, 2024, may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.
The exposure times at the two locations vary. Those at the Flying J Travel Center should be aware of potential exposure between 7:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., while visitors at the Pilot Travel Center may have been at risk from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Health officials are urging anyone who may have visited these locations during the specified times to check their immunization status against measles.
Symptoms of measles typically appear within 10 to 14 days after exposure. Individuals who were potentially exposed on August 4 could start showing symptoms as early as August 25. Common symptoms include a runny nose, high fever, fatigue, cough, irritation and redness of the eyes, and a characteristic red rash with raised bumps.
Officials recommend that anyone experiencing symptoms should refrain from attending public places and contact their healthcare provider immediately.
This year, Wisconsin has reported a total of nine confirmed cases of measles, all occurring in Oconto County during July. In comparison, five cases have been reported in Minnesota for the same year. Minnesota health officials are raising concerns about declining vaccination rates, which they believe contribute to the increase in measles cases. In 2019, over 92% of kindergarteners in Minnesota were fully vaccinated. This figure has since dropped to 87% in 2024. Last year alone, Minnesota recorded 70 measles cases, representing about one-third of the total cases in the state since 2010.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services continues to monitor the situation and emphasize the importance of vaccinations as a preventive measure against measles.
