Officials confirm Wartburg student does not have measles

WAVERLY - School officials said Wednesday that the Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed the Wartburg College student tested for measles earlier this week does not have the disease.

The student was tested for measles on Tuesday at Waverly Health Center.

More than 102 people from 14 states were reported to have measles during January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these cases are part of a large, ongoing outbreak linked to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.

But cases have also been confirmed in Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and South Dakota, according to the IDPH. Iowa still has no confirmed cases.

IDPH spokeswoman Polly Carver-Kimm pointed said on Tuesday that it is not unusual for an individual to be tested for measles out of 'an abundance of caution” if he or she exhibits symptoms of the disease.

Measles spreads through the air via coughing and sneezing and is highly contagious. Symptoms include a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat. It is followed by a rash that spreads all over the body, according to the CDC.

Measles still is common in many parts of the world and cases are often imported, the CDC said. When the disease reaches the United States, it spreads easily when there are groups of unvaccinated people.