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(Iowa) -- Iowa confirms first measles case in six years.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the state’s first case of measles since 2019. The case involves an unvaccinated adult in central Iowa.
Iowa is now among 32 jurisdictions in the United States reporting more than 1,000 measles cases and three deaths so far this year. According to the State Medical Director, the best way to prevent measles is by receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The MMR vaccine series is 97% effective at preventing measles.
Currently, only 84% of 2-year-olds in Iowa are vaccinated—well below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks through herd immunity.