Measles is back in Iowa. What to know about vaccines and symptoms
A case of measles has been confirmed in an adult in central Iowa, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Iowa HHS announced the first case of measles of 2026 on July 8. The patient, a vaccinated adult resident of Polk County, was infected while traveling abroad.
Here's what to know about the virus, symptoms and vaccinations:
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles symptoms show up around one to two weeks after someone is in contact with the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Initial symptoms include:
- Fever (reaching up to 105 degrees)
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watering eyes
About two to three days after the first symptoms, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) might appear inside the infected person's mouth.
Roughly three to five days after the first symptoms, a rash likely will appear, comprised of large, flat spots and small raised bumps starting on the face or neck and spreading down the body.
How does measles spread?
The virus is one of the most contagious infectious diseases — 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed end up contracting it. Additionally, 1 in 5 of those people end up hospitalized, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles spreads by breathing in the virus that travels on droplets after people cough or sneeze. It is less common to get measles from objects contaminated with infected droplets, according to Iowa HHS.
Can you get measles if you are vaccinated?
Yes, you can still get measles even if you are vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, but it is rare, according to the Mayo Clinic. For the small percentage of people who do contract the virus, the symptoms tend to be mild.
The measles vaccine prevents contraction 97% of the time, on average, according to the Mayo Clinic.
2026 measles cases on track to surpass 2025
In 2025, there was a total of nine measles cases in Iowa and 2,289 across the country, according to the Iowa HHS release. There were 243 patients hospitalized with infections and three deaths.
This year is set to outpace 2025. There have already been 2,170 confirmed cases in 2026 nationwide. More than 90% of those infected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
When can babies get the measles vaccine?
The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) protects against measles with 97% efficacy and is typically administered to children as part of the regular vaccine course, with the first dose at ages 12 to 15 months and the second at ages 4 to 6.
Do adults need a measles vaccine booster?
The vaccine has been available in its current form since 1971, marking more than 50 years of safe and effective use. Adults born before 1957 are presumed to have acquired immunity because they most likely had measles in childhood, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
However, individuals vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 may have received a less effective measles vaccine and are advised to receive at least one dose of today's MMR vaccine if they have not been revaccinated since or are unsure which vaccine they received, according to Harvard Medical School.
How many Iowans have received the measles vaccine?
Only 10 of Iowa's 99 counties meet or exceed the 95% MMR vaccination threshold among kindergartners, the level widely considered necessary to prevent sustained measles outbreaks, according to county-level data released by the CDC in July 2025.
Kyle Werner and Kate Kealey of the Des Moines Register contributed to this report, which was syndicated from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.
