Measles is reportedly on trend to have more cases this year in the United States than any year since 1996, says Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Washington County Public Health Director. According to the Center for Disease Control, there have been 159 cases so far this year in the country. She adds that measles is very contagious and can linger in a room hours after an infected person has left the area. A vaccine for Measles, Mumps and Rubella was developed in the 1960s.

She adds that if people were to stop immunizing, measles would kill 2.7-million people globally each year.

More information about vaccinations and measles can be gathered at Washington County Public Health or online at the Iowa Deparment of Public Health’s website (click here).