Measles Case Count At Half-Dozen in Iowa

As of last Friday (06.27), the number of confirmed cases of measles in Iowa stood at six.

Chickasaw County Public Health Administrator Lisa Welter notes that the first case reported in May was the first in the state since 2019.

Welter says health officials have identified the origins of those cases.

Welter encourages getting your children the MMR vaccine which covers measles, mumps, and rubella, with the first dose for kids at 12 months of age and the second dose between ages four and six.

To this point, she says there’s been no recommendation that adults need to get the MMR vaccine.

She notes that there are some possible exceptions that might require an adult to have two MMR vaccinations: if you travel internationally and students heading off to college. 

Welter also cautions that measles is highly contagious because it can easily be spread through airborne transmission, such as sneezing, and can remain in the air for up to two hours.