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Gundersen Lutheran Infection Control urges parents to check their child’s immunization record for measles and rubella vaccination. Seven confirmed cases of measles have been identified in Wisconsin, including one from Vernon County. There are also two confirmed cases of rubella, both in the Milwaukee area.

Measles and rubella are two viral illnesses that can affect anyone who has not previously had the diseases or been immunized against them. Both diseases can be spread through the air and through contact with infected individuals. Measles is among the most contagious diseases.

“Any rash illness with a fever in an unimmunized individual could represent another case of measles or rubella,” added Bridget Pfaff of infection control at Gundersen Lutheran. “Alert your provider immediately if you suspect you may have measles or rubella so they can order the proper tests, and make recommendations on how to keep from spreading the illness to other people.”

Measles begins with cold-like symptoms including cough, runny nose, fever and red watery eyes. A rash begins to develop, typically by the second day after the onset of symptoms (rash appears at the hairline and spreads head to foot), and lasts five to six days.

Rubella usually begins with a rash that appears on the face and neck and typically lasts two or three days. Older children and adults may experience low-grade fever, swollen glands in the back of the neck and an upper respiratory infection before the rash begins.

About 15 percent of people who contract measles experience complications such as an ear infection or pneumonia; one in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain); and one or two in 1,000 infected will die.

Rubella is relatively mild for most, but if a woman in her first trimester of pregnancy catches the disease, her baby has a 90 percent chance of being born deaf, blind, cognitively disabled, with heart defects or stillborn.

There is no specific treatment for either illness, but both measles and rubella can be prevented through a vaccine. It is usually given as a combination vaccine that includes protection against measles-mumps and rubella (MMR).

Two doses are administered to children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years old and usually provide life-long immunity.

Adults who have not received MMR immunizations are at risk of this infection and should contact their healthcare provider to receive the vaccine.