# Measles cases in southwest Wisconsin rise to 41, with 7 more cases probable

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-22 15:07 UTC · Category: Health

## Executive Summary
A measles outbreak in southwest Wisconsin has reached 41 confirmed cases, with health officials linking the surge to low vaccination rates.

## Intelligence Brief
A measles outbreak is currently expanding across southwest Wisconsin, with the number of confirmed cases now totaling 41. According to reporting from Channel 3000, there are an additional 7 cases that are considered probable. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has identified the specific geographic areas affected by the rise in infections, with WKOW reporting that the cases are concentrated in Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties. These reports indicate a concentrated public health challenge within these specific southwestern regions of the state. Coverage of the outbreak is being handled by several regional and state-level outlets. WBAY has provided updates based on information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, while KCRG specifically highlighted the growth of the outbreak to the current 41 confirmed cases.


Furthermore, PBS Wisconsin has featured insights from Dr. Ryan Westergaard regarding the situation in southwest Wisconsin. The combined reporting from these outlets emphasizes the role of the state health department in tracking and communicating the spread of the virus. Contextual details provided in the coverage suggest that the outbreak is not an isolated medical event but is tied to systemic health trends. Urban Milwaukee reports that low vaccination rates are the primary factor driving the current measles outbreak in Wisconsin. This indicates that pockets of under-vaccination have created an environment where the virus can spread more easily among the population.


The focus on vaccination rates highlights the tension between public health goals and current immunization levels in the affected areas. Moving forward, the situation will likely depend on the updates provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as they monitor the 7 probable cases. Observation will center on whether the number of confirmed cases continues to climb beyond the current 41 or if the outbreak is contained within Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties. Public health officials will continue to provide updates on the status of the outbreak and the effectiveness of vaccination efforts to curb further transmission in southwest Wisconsin.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Milwaukee | Low Vaccination Rates Driving Measles Outbreak in Wisconsin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxOYUU2LWphMFFHZEI5WEhXRmNYMnBTMDdMZlJPOWlQcGlOU2hGRnlxMnlfQzhNNkhTMnhZdTcyYXR1WVFzMFJCbFVDNC1vOEpOYnBGZ0FtTXBVVktndlBlUnU1cEpqT2w3U3ZmSFVoOERsQXlvTGU0WURDbTFhYURtUEs3eGhaTHhpOXpVNFFOTi1qSFV3M3VhSWpCd09jb3M?oc=5) |
| KCRG | Measles outbreak grows to 41 confirmed cases in southwest Wisconsin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxQSHRuRWxOMWJ5NXJhUmkzZ2ZKRGkydHd5emxsVWlzMzhiRE5tSXdZREpKcDcxY0Y5OUNDQlJGYVJJYUV0dEIzYnJwZjNnbE1vR19GVkVhTFBUN1BMR3lOWWx4S3VqRlBsNVlSaVBwM3lMdHZlU2xKZzJBUVJmbnlMb3M1eUpkNVpGM0RqaTFiU2FmVVlscXhZbTN3?oc=5) |
| PBS Wisconsin | Dr. Ryan Westergaard on measles cases in southwest Wisconsin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxQZUVyd3NLelhPZTkxVGZQd1VmYzNVV3lteWUxVzN0S1NadVVlUGlSMEtEei0yaUlzbE0wRWhEZFl0UXhSZGJoUEIxbloyajNxNVVLNUtNSTFycTE3UTRMQlJzLXFXQkZtU3o5TC1QZUM3OWU2a0xBMF9CTU5va0NaNkNyMGZ0dTFhcExhcmlRUXN2ZDRrLTExSTJnRQ?oc=5) |
| Billings Gazette | MHP: Pedestrian killed in early-morning crash in Anaconda | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPaVdQSE9yaEZxNkhOeUVVbnNYYVlfSWVua3RZd3ZuMFRybHFIeFQtV0dWQXlTSERlcHpWY2EwbUJHbTh6T0Rwdm9UMzFMaF9qMWctWEcyRlRVbnRQZTRFbWdWZ2FuVTVrbExFbEtidnVEX3BCb2JwWmRudEhQNl9EcmppdlZGSTBKNUxYTVoxTy1qZ0tUdk9sc1c2c28xY2F1MGlB?oc=5) |
| WKOW | Wisconsin DHS reports measles cases rising in Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi9AFBVV95cUxNcGFBLXR3OWRsQ2lEYTNKaXJKeWVCRjFPVXREODkzNHp4b2pJbGw5cDlpQ1Q0TXJNdmtiQjZFdmlTSGw3M3pZakZ6WC0yVnVYVUJfMnpmQ19CczhqVUNjQXduOUhlRFlkRTUtSlNyUV9iTlZlVmN2RDhra1hkbUZ5aFVYMWQ2S3Z6RVZvZE9OelN6T2NxcVlnUUJSTTVQSU4zSzFFcDd3OXBCd1p1RmpIRGlTQ2o5LWFfZmh6UVF3Z1A0WndWT2hBX2NwSTFncThWN1ZsaTF6VGlGcEkxRjFITmtseFNPeXVrZUJBTkI1N1l0bE9w?oc=5) |
| WBAY | Wisconsin Department of Health Services provides update on measles outbreak in southwest Wisconsin | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQck9WVDRma012YmVOQmFfbmhOSFVkSU9kYjdoN0lFb2lDMlh0UDJLcXF5c0ZwLXh0ZEdDMlB0T3ZmaW9BVE1NMEM4a2cxMVBibjhwaVpJazhLd052amhINEU4ZGM3d1pLbXByb2lBY1FYZExRY3phdFE0WW9OTDNQS1dFREtZa1JGX1BBSWpKcE4yUlNxV001MWw1bkZzc0hWUjVOS2F4T2ZZeU8zY3lLS0RQckxfaC0xMWxEMHZJY9IB0wFBVV95cUxQeXZXc29OZHJMaWVnb1lsZlZkWW4xRVpWV0tOX1Y1cTBzT0pXMk1JaF9mYmh3SHVkWjFPcWZuRXdnc2tVM2pmQWZsemx3NkEzdlpMQ0hGaDloY2ZhaW1CdWplaUpYMXd2bm8tcGgtNGJZU2hOUUFncnNvNXBBbHJobXZ1LUVaNHhoUkNCZVMxbkdFRmh) |
| Channel 3000 | Measles cases in southwest Wisconsin rise to 41, with 7 more cases probable | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7gFBVV95cUxNYThNbXNfUmtfM2xyeVBPeHkzTGpIMEJRWGtEdEZsLVBVMnpVM3NQXzJBTnBOODYzc29uSkN1TU93VGdyRHc4RHJlaThpbFBra3F6amw3c1RvSEZEMEdyRWhOSC1rTDM3dG5vVkI5QjVHclZ0c1VBM2hMWmxhYzc2cE9aREluMXlrNzQ3bEJzTnZoNkFfVG9tb3dzeGRudDhHMkJGWmU2a3Nybk1RcnQ0X1kxaXhOZ1FLaThjRjQ5TEZNUUUwcXp6eGtWQXM4ZVRLRUJ0bjNkNmc2QnJIS0Z6WHlJb0hmTmRzUlhWWTZn?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-22/measles-cases-in-southwest-wisconsin-rise-to-41-with-7-more-cases-probable*