The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has investigated more than 50 possible cases of measles so far this year and only two have come back as positive. The first case of measles in the state since 2011 was confirmed by the department near the beginning of April in an unvaccinated northeastern Iowa man following his visit to Israel. A second case was confirmed in an individual who had household contact with the original patient. With the help of the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) and local public health partners, the IDPH has extensively tested each of the reported cases, with none since the ones in April being measles. Nine Iowans, that were potentially exposed to the virus on airlines or in states experiencing an outbreak, were identified, and these individuals have been evaluated for evidence of immunity. More than 1,000 measles cases have been reported in 28 U.S. states so far this year, the highest number in over 25 years. Public health officials encourage everyone to continue vaccinating their children against measles and to check their own vaccination status. For more information on this disease, which is considered eliminated in the U.S., follow the link included with this story on our website.
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http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html
