Fastrack · Wisconsin Measles Death Marks State's First Since 1990

An infant in Wisconsin has died of measles, state health officials announced Thursday. It is the state's first measles death since 1990.

431 measles cases confirmed in Wisconsin this year, across 13 counties.
9 people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized with measles.
All but three Wisconsin cases involve unvaccinated people.
Officials withheld the child's details to protect the family's privacy.

Why it matters: The death follows a child's death in New York's Lewis County on Monday and one in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Before these outbreaks, none of the three states had a measles death in over 30 years.

8 deaths reported by state health departments; the CDC has confirmed 4.
4,852 U.S. cases confirmed this year, more than double last year's total.

The story so far

4 steps · since Nov 2

Nov 2New York Reports First Measles Death in 30 Years27 sources
Nov 4Pennsylvania Reports Sixth Measles Death Amid Outbreak12 sources
Nov 5Wisconsin Measles Death Marks State's First Since 1990You are here
Nov 6US Measles Cases Surpass 5,000, CDC Reports10 sourcesLatest

How 15 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 15 sources

15 sources · 15 articles · 34% Left coverage

Where they split: Outlets agree on the facts; coverage differs on whether to center the national surge and falling vaccination or Wisconsin's own low vaccine coverage.

Center5 sources

Associated Press3dChild dies of measles in Wisconsin’s first such death since 1990 CTV News3dWisconsin reports infant death linked to measles outbreak Newsweek2dWisconsin Reports First Infant Death From Measles in More Than 35 Years The Hill3dWisconsin reports first measles death since 1990 WKBN Youngstown3dWisconsin reports first measles death since 1990

Left coverage, 5 sources: The left sees the death as part of a national pattern, the third this week, tied partly to declining vaccination and a threat to U.S. elimination status.

NBC News3dWisconsin reports its first measles death in decades, the third in the U.S. this week CNN3dWisconsin infant is US’ third measles-related death this week ABC News3dWisconsin infant dies from measles: Health officials HuffPost3dWisconsin Reports Its First Infant Death Linked To Measles In 36 Years The Independent3dChild dies of measles in Wisconsin's first such death since 1990

Right coverage, 5 sources: The right sees a state milestone, the first in over 30 years, noting Wisconsin's 79.8% early MMR coverage and lagging CDC death counts.

Washington Examiner3dWisconsin reports first measles death in over 30 years New York Post3dWisconsin infant dies of measles as state sees first death from disease since 1990 NTD3dWisconsin Reports Infant Death Linked to Measles Outbreak OutKick3dWisconsin infant dies of measles as state sees first death from disease since 1990 The Epoch Times3dInfant Dies in Wisconsin Measles Outbreak, First Death Since 1990

What’s next: The Pan American Health Organization meets next week on whether the U.S. loses measles elimination status. The U.S. has held that status since 2000.

Wisconsin is urging all unvaccinated residents to get a measles vaccine.
Pennsylvania has not confirmed a possible measles death reported by a Franklin County coroner.
Was the Wisconsin infant old enough to have received a first vaccine dose?
When will the CDC's death count catch up with state tallies?
Is Pennsylvania's toll five deaths or six? The Independent reported five, while NBC News and CNN reported six.