(Des Moines) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed a case of measles in an adult resident of Eastern Iowa and is notifying the public of potential exposure locations. The individual is fully vaccinated and has no known link to the previous measles cases in Iowa, nor any recent travel outside the state. Iowa has a total of seven confirmed measles cases in 2025. As of July 8th, 2025, a total of 1,288 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States. Of these, 1,185 (92%) were unvaccinated, and 103 (8%) had received at least one dose of MMR vaccine.
Iowa HHS and local health officials have identified locations visited by the individual while contagious, where the public might have been exposed to measles. Anyone born in or after 1957 who visited the following locations and is unvaccinated or unsure of their immune status should report to the online questionnaire which can be found at the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/znkgFZwhWQ
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. If you think you have been exposed to a measles case and have symptoms, call your medical provider or nearest emergency room ahead of time and tell them that you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms before arriving.
Due to a locally-acquired case of measles not linked to other known cases, an accelerated MMR vaccination schedule should be considered. While the routine MMR schedule is one dose at 12–15 months and a second dose at 4–6 years, Iowans should discuss with their healthcare provider to consider:
An early extra dose of MMR between 6 and 11 months of age (“dose 0”); this dose does NOT count toward the routine series
The first routine dose (dose 1) can be given after 12 months of age, at least 28 days after dose 0
The second routine dose (dose 2) can be given at least 28 days after dose 1, instead of waiting until age 4–6 years
