Wartburg College student tested for measles

WAVERLY - A Wartburg College student has been tested for the measles, school officials said Tuesday.

The college said in a statement that the student lives on campus and was tested at Waverly Health Center. The student has not returned to campus and will not until results are known.

Wartburg College spokeswoman Emily Christensen said the school is waiting for the results, which could take up to 24 hours to complete. She added the campus would follow any protocols the Iowa Department of Public Health has laid out to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

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 Iowa Department of Public Health.

As of Tuesday, IDPH said there are no confirmed cases in Iowa.

IDPH spokeswoman Polly Carver-Kimm pointed out 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. Because of the contagious nature of the virus, the public health department would immediately alert the public if a case were confirmed, she said.

The last confirmed case in Iowa was reported in 2011.

Measles spreads through the air via coughing and sneezing. 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.

Cases are considered to be infectious from four days before rash onset through four days after.

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.

Iowa code requires health facilities to report suspect cases of measles immediately to the department of public health. Once tested, and if confirmed, the public health department requires the patient to be isolated for a period of time.

Additionally, to prevent further spread, those in contact with the sick individual and are not appropriately immunized should also be isolated, according to public health code. Measles vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent the disease.