Confirmed cases of measles are in Iowa’s neighboring states of Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, but there has not been a case in Iowa as of today. Last year the United States had a record number of measles cases with 644 in 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Lynn Fisher with Washington County Public Health explains the airborne respiratory illness if very contagious, the first symptom is a high fever usually around 104 degrees, with a rash starting at the hair line and radiating down typically four days later.

She adds the best way to prevent getting measles is by being vaccinated, which is 98 to 99 percent effective against contracting the illness. Fisher says one in 1,000,000 doses results in a severe allergy, while one in 20 people who contract measles get pneumonia, and one in 1,000 people who contract measles dies.

For more information listen to today’s Washington Page with Fisher.