Iowa Confirms First Case of Measles in Vaccinated Person

Iowa health officials last week confirmed the state’s first measles case of 2026 in a vaccinated adult from central Iowa who caught the infection during international travel.

That’s Lisa Welter with Chickasaw County Public Health, who adds that measles can easily be spread through airborne transmission, such as sneezing.

As for symptoms that could indicate you have contracted measles.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said the vaccinated person with the measles visited several locations in or near Des Moines while contagious. The closest locations to our area include a Kwik Star and a Mexican restaurant, both in Webster City.

A complete list of locations they visited is included below.

If you think you were exposed and have symptoms, call your doctor or nearest emergency room ahead of time. Tell them before you arrive that you may have been exposed to measles.

Iowa reported nine confirmed measles cases in 2025. Across the country, 2,289 confirmed cases were reported last year, resulting in 243 hospitalizations and three deaths.

Anyone at those locations during the listed times should watch for measles symptoms for 21 days.