Parent Briefing: Wisconsin Balloon Death Coverage Expands, Measles Holds Steady, Formula Founders Acquire Store-Brand Business

Parent Briefing: Wisconsin Balloon Death Coverage Expands, Measles Holds Steady, Formula Founders Acquire Store-Brand Business

Date: 1 November 2026

Key developments from the last 24 hours

Wisconsin infant dies after balloon animal fragment lodges in esophagus

Wider coverage emerged on 1 November of the 24 October death of 11-month-old Don’Vyaire Avita-Mays (“Baby Don”) at a Kenosha, Wisconsin trunk-or-treat. His mother, Kisha Avita-Wilson, told NBC Chicago that the family had been keeping balloons away from him. One balloon animal came undone; he grabbed and bit it, and the tied knot and latex fragment shot into the bottom of his esophagus. She performed CPR and tried to clear the airway; he turned blue and went into cardiac arrest. EMS extracted the fragment with tube and pliers, but he did not survive. He died two days before his first birthday. His mother, 30 weeks pregnant, has been hospitalized with early contractions and premature dilation from the stress. She is calling for stronger limits on marketing balloons to children, saying existing warnings are not enough.

Parent takeaway: Balloons (especially latex that can fragment) remain a known choking hazard for infants and toddlers. Keep them fully out of reach, supervise closely at parties, and treat any balloon play as high-risk. Know infant CPR and have a plan for airway obstruction that does not resolve with back blows or chest thrusts.

Measles totals hold: US 4,852, Pennsylvania 1,426, Wisconsin near 400

CDC figures remain at 4,852 US cases (as of the most recent weekly update). Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 1,426 cases across 44 counties (+28 since 28 October), 268 hospitalizations, and 5 confirmed measles-associated deaths. Fewer than 1% of PA cases are in vaccinated people. Wisconsin is approaching 400 (392 as of 30 October), with the large majority in unvaccinated people and clustering in southwest counties.

Parent takeaway: Check household MMR status, especially for infants too young for the first dose and anyone unvaccinated. Exposure risk is highest in outbreak counties. Congenital measles and pregnancy concerns remain active in Pennsylvania.

ByHeart founders acquiring Perrigo’s store-brand infant formula business

A company led by ByHeart co-founders Ron Belldegrun and Mia Funt (now of MeridianMade) has agreed to buy Perrigo’s infant formula business for up to $175 million, expected to close in the first half of 2027. ByHeart formula itself has been discontinued and will not relaunch. This follows the 2025–2026 ByHeart-linked infant botulism outbreak (48 infants hospitalized across 17 states) and the related Nara Organics cases, both tied to contaminated powdered milk ingredients. FDA root-cause work continues.

Parent takeaway: If any ByHeart product remains in the home, discard it. The acquisition puts the same leadership team in charge of widely available store-brand formula. Watch for any new testing commitments or regulatory actions on C. botulinum in dairy ingredients.

Ongoing product notes

Recent CPSC actions still relevant: PILLANI nursing pillows (suffocation risk), Harkla sensory swings (fall hazard from hook failure), QZH.DUAO pajama sets (flammability), and the Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels toddler bars (choking from sticky mass). Millie Moon diaper rash reports remain elevated with no formal recall.

Sources include NBC Chicago, New York Post, People, Wisconsin DHS, Pennsylvania DOH, CDC, and reporting by Bill Marler / Bloomberg on the formula acquisition. Always verify the latest official notices for your product and location.