Child dies of measles in Wisconsin's first such death since 1990

An infant in southwestern Wisconsin has died after contracting measles, marking the state’s first measles death in 36 years, Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials announced Thursday. The department did not disclose where the death occurred or additional details, citing privacy for the family. The coroner listed measles as the cause of death. Kirsten Johnson, secretary of the state health department, said the death was a tragedy and highlighted measles as a vaccine-preventable disease. The U.S. eliminated domestic measles transmission in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but coverage has fallen below the 95% level needed to prevent outbreaks. The CDC has confirmed four measles-associated deaths in the U.S. this year, while Wisconsin reported 431 cases, with all but three in unvaccinated people.