New Community Measles Exposure Alert at Madison Hotel

Public Health Madison & Dane County is investigating a new measles exposure in Dane County, not related to the recent confirmed case of measles reported last week.

A traveler from out of state who stayed the night at a Madison hotel later tested positive for measles. The investigation identified the following Dane County location where people may have been exposed:

• Holiday Inn Express
  • 5150 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI
  • Friday, February 6 from 12:01am to 12:00pm

Public Health is reaching out directly to known contacts of this individual but does not have a full list of possible exposures. If someone believes they were exposed, here is some helpful information to understand:

• Symptoms would not begin right away. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. In this case, someone exposed on February 6 could begin to develop symptoms starting February 13 through February 27.
• If someone can confirm they are vaccinated, it's extremely unlikely they will get measles, but it is still important monitor for symptoms.
• If someone is unprotected and have been exposed, they need quarantine starting February 13 through February 27.Unprotected means anyone born in 1957 or after who is unvaccinated or has no laboratory evidence of having had measles.

If anyone exposed to measles develops symptoms, stay home and stay away from others. Do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation. Call the doctor's office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions so that other patients are not exposed to the virus. Please reach out to Public Health at [email protected] or call (608) 266-4821 with questions about a possible exposure.

Measles can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization. The MMR vaccine can protect you from serious illness. Most people got the measles vaccination since two doses are required for school entry. DHS considers people who received two doses of measles vaccine as children according to the U.S. vaccination schedule protected for life, and they do not ever need a booster dose.

Public Health offers free vaccines to uninsured adults and children, and children with Medical Assistance.

For more information about measles, visit the Public Health website.