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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Western Iowa measles case brings state total to 8
A vaccinated resident of western Iowa has been diagnosed with the highly contagious viral infection
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State officials are warning the public that they may have been exposed to measles at four locations in northwest Iowa last week.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday an adult in western Iowa has tested positive for measles. The individual is fully vaccinated and has no known link to previous measles cases in Iowa. The person also has not recently traveled outside the state.
State and local health officials have identified locations visited by the individual while they were contagious. Those locations are:
- SuperHiTech, 317 N Main Ave., Sioux Center: Monday, July 14 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- SuperHiTech, 915 Park St., Sheldon: Monday, July 14 between 3:35 and 8 p.m.
- SuperHiTech, 915 Park St., Sheldon: Thursday, July 17 between 9:15 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Casey’s General Store, 612 Division St., Hull: Thursday, July 17 between 8:50 and 10:55 a.m.
- Kwik Star, 1521 Park St., Sheldon: Thursday, July 17 between 2:25 and 4:30 p.m.
Anyone who was present at those locations during the listed date and time should monitor for symptoms of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, red/watery eyes, runny nose, and a rash. It can kill people by also causing pneumonia and brain inflammation.
If you think you have been exposed to a measles case and have symptoms, call a medical provider or the nearest emergency room ahead of time and tell them, before arriving, that you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms.
Tuesday’s report brings the total number of confirmed measles cases in Iowa to eight this year, all since May.
Of the eight cases, six have been Eastern Iowa residents. The first case was reported in May in a central Iowa resident.
Five of the eight cases have been in unvaccinated individuals.
As of July 15, a total of 1,309 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States. Of these, 1,204 (92 percent) were unvaccinated, and 105 (8 percent) had received at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Breakthrough cases typically experience milder illness and are less likely to spread the virus to others.
The virus was eliminated in the United States in 2000 through vaccination, but occasional outbreaks happen when residents travel to other countries and become infected. This year's national outbreak is the worst since 2019.
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