The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is urging Iowa healthcare providers to be on the lookout for measles cases in response to an ongoing outbreak in Minnesota. As of Oct. 10, health officials have identified 52 measles cases, including 12 hospitalizations, in Minnesota in an outbreak that began in May 2024. The majority of cases involve unvaccinated children in the Twin Cities metro area. No measles cases have been reported in Iowa this year. Measles typically begins with common symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by a rash that spreads across the body. Medical professionals are urged to consider measles in patients with a febrile rash illness, especially those who have recently traveled internationally or been exposed to someone with similar symptoms. Providers who suspect measles are asked to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE) immediately and to review and promote the MMR vaccine for patients lacking immunity. Links with more information about measles and the ongoing outbreak in Minnesota can be found included with this story on our website.
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https://hhs.iowa.gov/center-acute-disease-epidemiology/epi-manual/reportable-diseases/measles
http://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/update.html
