Iowa reports 7th measles case as U.S. outbreak grows
Why it matters: The return of measles — mostly caused by unvaccinated travelers and falling immunization rates — raises concerns as families travel or go on international vacations during peak summer season.
Catch up quick: Measles spreads easily through the air, can stay in indoor spaces for hours, and causes serious illness in children and immunocompromised people.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease, which causes high fever, rash, cough and red eyes and can lead to severe complications like brain inflammation.
State of play: Before this year, the last confirmed cases of measles in Iowa were in 2019, when there were two, per the HHS.
Although the MMR shot is safe and effective, vaccination rates among Iowa kindergartners fell below the herd immunity target of 95% in the 2024-25 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The big picture: The U.S. is currently experiencing a multistate measles outbreak with nearly 1,300 cases confirmed in at least 39 states so far this year, according to the CDC.
There have been three confirmed deaths, and 13% of cases led to hospitalization.
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