Wisconsin health officials investigating possible measles exposure at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Updated: Feb. 9, 2026

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- State health officials have identified six Milwaukee residents who were potentially exposed to measles on a flight from Phoenix to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

The city health department has reached out to those people and is trying to connect with airport staff who might have been exposed.

So far, the city has received no calls.

Posted: Feb. 6, 2026

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Health officials are closely monitoring another measles case in Wisconsin, but it originated elsewhere.

An infected passenger flew from Phoenix to Milwaukee at the end of January. They are now isolating in Walworth County.

There are no other cases connected to it right now, but officials are trying to reach other passengers and anyone else who may have come in contact with this person.

Dr. Michael Totoraitis is the city of Milwaukee's health commissioner. He told us in a virtual news conference, "For folks that work in public health, global travel is one of our scariest things."

Southwest flight WN 266 from Phoenix landed at Mitchell International Airport Jan. 29 at 10:31 pm.

Totoraitis said, "Unfortunately, they were infectious during that flight."

City, county, and state health officials say anyone on the flight or at the airport after it landed may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms until Feb. 19.

"We're always paying close attention to travel," Totoraitis said. "And thankfully we have strong partners at the state and with the CDC to respond to these types of moments."

The infected person has not been identified. They had been advised to isolate, but instead traveled to several locations, then Milwaukee.

After landing, they went to Walworth County, where they're currently isolating. There are no other cases in Milwaukee or Walworth counties at this time.

Health leaders are using this case to again urge people to vaccinate.

The two-dose measles vaccine is 93% effective after one shot and 97% effective after two.

About 81% of Wisconsin's 2-year-olds are vaccinated.

This measles case is also notable because it was detected in wastewater. The state started routinely testing wastewater in 44 different sewer districts last July.

Dr. Ryan Westergaard is the chief medical officer at the DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases. He said, "It's the first time that this system that we've had in place for the past year has shown a positive signal."

This measles case is attributed to Arizona because that's where the flight originated.

The case is not connected to recent measle cases in Waukesha or Dane counties. 

They are urging people to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms which you can read up on here.