ap photo A Filipino child suffering from measles is treated in a hospital in the Philippines in 2019.

The measles virus is sweeping across parts of the nation, with 700 cases divided amongst 24 states since the beginning of the year. Most of the cases — more than 500 — are in Texas. Fortunately, it has not reached Iowa . . . yet.

Marshall County Public Health Director Sydney Grewell said her office receives more information regarding measles every day. Referring to information from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services website, she said measles is one of the most contagious infections known to exist. The airborne virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. After the person is removed from an area, the virus can even survive up to two hours in the air.

“However, it is safe to say most Iowans have immunity to measles,” Grewell said. “If we were to see measles in Marshall County those that would be at the greatest risk for contracting the disease would be those who are unable to get vaccinated such as infants under 12 months, immunocompromised people and could spread quite rapidly in groups of people who are unvaccinated.”

To prevent the spread of the virus in a community, it is recommended 95 percent of the population should be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. According to Grewell, herd immunity occurs when a critical portion of the population is immunized against a disease, making them protected and reducing the chance of an outbreak.

“We are seeing an increase in measles cases across the United States due to decreased herd immunity,” she said. “. . . Even those who are not eligible for certain vaccines get some protection because the spread of the contagious disease is contained. This is known as ‘community immunity.'”

According to Grewell, vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent measles. The vaccine against measles is commonly referred to as MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella). She said the MMR vaccine has a strong track record of safety and effectiveness — one dose is approximately 93 percent effective at preventing measles, while two doses increase protection to about 97 percent.

“Thanks to high immunization rates across Iowa, measles remains extremely rare in our state,” Grewell said. “In fact, we have not reported a confirmed case of measles in Iowa since 2019.”

For maximum protection, two MMR doses are typically given to children – the first to kids between the ages of 12 months to 15 months and the second between the ages of 4 and 6.

“In practice, most children in Iowa receive their second dose at age 4, prior to entering kindergarten, as it is a requirement for school enrollment,” Grewell said.

Fortunately, 95 percent of kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Marshall County have received both MMR doses.

“This high rate of compliance highlights the strong collaboration between families, healthcare providers and our education system in keeping our community safe and healthy,” she said.

The 95 percent coverage does not include adults. Grewell said the Iowa Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS) may not provide a complete picture of adult MMR vaccination rates. That is largely because the MMR vaccine is classified as a recommended childhood immunization, and adult MMR data is not routinely collected or reported through IRIS. She added it is also not mandatory for physicians to enter vaccine records into IRIS. In many adult cases, their vaccination record is kept on paper. As a result, they may not appear in the system as having a record of MMR vaccination, when in fact they did receive the vaccine during childhood.

“We always encourage individuals to consult their healthcare provider if they are unsure of their vaccination history,” Grewell said. “In many cases, providers can help interpret records or determine whether additional vaccination is recommended.”

The public health director said the county does not have a shortage of MMR vaccines at this time. In fact, she is preparing to place an additional order as part of a state-led MMR Vaccine Initiative, which aims to ensure continued access and availability.

“We remain committed to supporting our community’s immunization needs and will continue working closely with the state to maintain an adequate and reliable supply,” she said.

Grewell said people should call their doctor or her at 641-844-2799 to schedule a vaccine.

MEASLES SYMPTOMS

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website states measles is highly contagious, and symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after initial infection. The CDC estimates one out of every five infected unvaccinated people are hospitalized. So far, 11 percent of the 700-plus people with measles have been hospitalized.

Symptoms include:

Fever, typically more than 101 degrees;

Cough;

Red, watery eyes;

Runny nose and nasal congestion;

Koplik spots, which appear two to three days after the previous symptoms are present. The spots are tiny and white or bluish inside the mouth;

Rash, which occurs three to five days after initial symptoms. The rash appears as flat, red spots with raised bumps on the face near the hairline. It then proceeds down the body, covering the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet.

Grewell urged anyone with measles symptoms, or who have been exposed to someone with the virus, to stay home and call a physician urgent care or emergency room before going in.

“It’s very important not to arrive at a healthcare facility without giving advance notice, as measles can spread quickly to others — especially those who are too young or unable to be vaccinated,” she said.

MEASLES COMPLICATIONS

Ear infections and diarrhea are more common side effects of the measles, occurring in one out of 10 infected people. More serious complications include pneumonia, occurring in one out of 20 people; encephalitis – a swelling of the brain, one out of 1,000 and; death, one to three out of 1,000. There have been two confirmed measles deaths in 2025, and another one is under investigation.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.