Iowa has had seven confirmed cases of measles with the most recent person being a fully vaccinated adult in eastern Iowa, who has no known link to the previous cases in the state, nor any recent travel. A list of places the individual went to while contagious can be found here. 

As of Wednesday according to the Centers for Disease Control, there has been a total of 1,309 confirmed measles cases in the United States and three confirmed deaths. Of those cases, 92% were people who were unvaccinated or who had an unknown vaccination status. 

Measles is a highly-infectious airborne illness. The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella with the first dose usually given between the first 12-15 months of life. People are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider about the vaccine. 

According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, students entering kindergarten through 12th grade in Iowa schools are required to have two doses of the MMR vaccine. However, the law allows for religious and medical exemptions. If a non-immune person is exposed to a confirmed case of the measles, they should stay home “from five days after the first possible exposure through 21 days after their last possible exposure to the person with confirmed measles,” as outlined by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. 

Measles can remain infectious for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air after an infected person has left an area. Symptoms can include fever, cough, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth, and a flat red rash.