State Health Department Warns of Possible Measles Exposure in Northeast Iowa

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is alerting the public to possible measles exposure in northeast Iowa.

Iowa HHS says an Illinois resident with a confirmed case of measles visited Iowa while still infectious. Thus, visitors who stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Independence from 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 4, through 9 am Thursday, March 5, may have been exposed to measles. 

Iowa HHS reports that there have been nearly 13-hundred measles cases reported in the United States since March 5th. 93% of the cases involved people who were NOT vaccinated.

There were nine measles cases identified in Iowa in 2025, but there have not been any cases of measles identified in Iowa residents this year. 

Chickasaw County Public Health Administrator Lisa Welter on warning signs you may have measles.

Welter cautions that measles is highly contagious because it can easily be spread through airborne transmission, such as sneezing.

She adds, if you think you have measles, call your healthcare provider first before heading in for medical treatment to avoid transmission while you’re in the waiting room.