What to know about measles and how to stay safe
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — 164 cases of measles have been reported in nine states across the U.S. as of Feb. 28, and local health experts want to inform Siouxlanders about the infectious virus.
While Siouxland District Health Department officials say there's been no reported cases of measles in the area, it's best that people know what to look out for. Measles is a highly contagious virus that manifests in several ways.
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'The early symptoms are usually a high fever, cough, runny nose, eye, you know, pinkeye, but then it usually progresses into a rash that starts in the face and kind of progresses down into the hands and feet,' said Tyler Brock with the Siouxland District Health Department.
According to the CDC, last year, 285 cases of measles were reported across 33 states. Officials say the virus can easily spread.
'So this is spread through droplets – you know, the stuff that comes out of our mouths when we talk, when we sneeze, when we cough, that kind of thing,' Brock said. 'It can actually hang in the air for a couple of hours. If I walk into a room two hours after somebody with measles was there coughing, I could still catch that infection. It's one of the things that makes it so infectious.'
The airborne disease can cause severe complications and even death, so it's important to call professionals if you believe you have measles.
'You're going to want to be in touch with your medical provider as soon as you possibly can,' Brock said. 'We would want people to isolate at home during their infectious period. Usually someone's infectious… until four days after the rash starts.'
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Brock wants to emphasize to people that the best way to avoid outbreaks of preventable diseases is to follow vaccination schedules.
'Usually it's recommended to have two MMR shots,' he said. 'You start getting those shots after 12 months old, so the babies can't get them yet until they're at least a year old.'
Across the Siouxland states, Iowa hasn't reported any cases of measles since 2019, Nebraska since 2017, and South Dakota since 2024.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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