'One of the most contagious viruses known to man': 9 confirmed cases of measles in Wisconsin, doctor urges vaccine

OCONTO, Wis. (CBS58) -- The Department of Health Services (DHS) says the state now has its first confirmed cases of measles.

"Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to man. If 100 people are in a room with someone that has Measles those who are unprotected i.e. not vaccinated 90 out of those 100 people will come down with measles," said Dr. Jeff Pothof, UW Health Emergency Medicine Physican.

So far, nine people in Oconto County have confirmed cases.

This outbreak started in Texas and came amid falling vaccination rates across Wisconsin.

"There's kind of this prospection that measles is like chickenpox that could not be further from the truth. Measles is a very serious disease," said Dr. Pothof.

According to the DHS all nine of the cases were exposed to a common source during out of state travel.

UW Health Emergency Medicine Physican Jeff Pothof says during the 1960s and 70s, measles was almost eradicated but with less people getting vaccinated it's making a comeback.

"Our vaccination rates are well below 95% which means measles has a fair game to come back infect people spread around cause outbreaks and that's exactly what we are seeing," said Dr. Pothof.

Pothof says it can take six to 21 days for a person to develop cold like symptoms.

"Two to four days after you develop that fever you start to develop the rash that's well known with measles what's interesting about this rash is it will start on your face, your head and work its way down your body," Dr. Pothof explained.

While mild measles will resolve in about two weeks, he says 30% of people will have complications.

"You can get pulmonary measles, it causes a really sever form of pneumonia which often leads to hospitalization sometimes leads to death. The other thing that's pretty remarkable about measles is it can cause very sever neurological disease. A small group of people will go on to develop inflammation of their brain. The third maybe less known thing about measles is its really good at completely wiping out your immune system," said Dr. Pothof.

Statewide the number of kids two or younger vaccinated against measles has fallen six points in the last decade, sitting around 81-percent.

"It's a bit of a wakeup call I think to people in the state," said Dr. Pothof.

The CDC recommends getting the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months for the first dose and then four to six years for the second dose.

"It is one of our most successful vaccines. If you get those two doses you are 97 or 98% protected from ever getting measles it doesn't matter if you're in that room with someone with measles you will not get it," said Dr. Pothof.

Since the cases have been identified, DHS says the overall risk to the public is still low.