Total number of measles cases identified at Fort McCoy hits double digits

FORT MCCOY, Wis. (WMTV) – State health officials have confirmed a total of 22 cases of measles in people living in Fort McCoy in Monroe County.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says there are currently no known active cases at Fort McCoy and the risk of transmitting the disease to surrounding communities is low.

The cases were identified in people living at Fort McCoy who had recently traveled to Afghanistan as part of the US government’s evacuation efforts.

Those infected with the virus at Fort McCoy ranged from 4 months to 26 years old. Almost two-thirds of those infected have been hospitalized.

DHS Secretary-designate Karen Timberlake said her agency will continue to support the Monroe County Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in efforts to contain the spread of the virus and provide refugees with appropriate medical care.

“The hardships that the Afghan evacuees have endured over the past year are truly unimaginable, and I ask that we all show compassion and respect people’s privacy and culture as the resettlement process continues,” Timberlake said.

While most people in Wisconsin are vaccinated against measles, DHS urges those who have never been vaccinated to receive one.

To date, more than 11,000 doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have been administered in Fort McCoy.

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