The measles outbreak in Iowa has taken a concerning turn, with three new cases reported in the past week. According to Iowa health officials, these new cases bring the state’s total number of measles cases to six, doubling what was previously thought to be the multistate measles outbreak.
The latest patients are a woman aged 18-40 and two juveniles, one male and one female, all from eastern Iowa. Notably, five out of six measles patients in Iowa were unvaccinated against the disease.
In contrast to previous cases, which were contracted while traveling outside the state, these new patients acquired the disease through local household contact. This marks a shift in how the outbreak is spreading.
Measles symptoms include fever, dry cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Initially, symptoms may appear within one to two weeks of exposure, followed by Koplik spots inside the mouth and a rash on the face or neck that spreads down the body. People with measles can spread the virus four days before and after a rash appears.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 1,197 confirmed measles cases nationwide this year in 35 states, a significant increase from 285 cases last year.
Source: https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2025/06/19/iowa-reports-3-new-measles-cases-bringing-2025-total-to-6/84276367007