Eastern Iowa Health Center, Linn County Public Health, Mercy Cedar Rapids, and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital are launching a community-wide campaign to educate people about measles, its risks, and the importance of vaccination. We want to encourage Linn County residents to check their vaccination status and understand the steps to take if they suspect they have measles.

Why now?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to hospitalization or even death. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. There has not been a case in Iowa since 2019. However, recent data show an increase in cases.

Looking across the country, the number of cases reported so far in 2025 has already surpassed the total for 2024. In February, a child in Texas died of measles, the first U.S. fatality in a decade. Another fatality followed in New Mexico. Both individuals were unvaccinated.

Thanks to widespread vaccination, many Americans have grown up with- out worrying about measles. However, as outbreaks increase, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, there is a renewed need for Iowans to under- stand how to protect themselves and their families.

A highlight of our education campaign: if you suspect you have measles, do not go to the doctor’s office or emergency
room without calling first. Measles is so contagious that an infected person simply entering a public space puts others at risk.

What local leaders are saying

Measles is a preventable disease for children over one year of age. School age children who do not have any medical/ religious waivers are protected from this preventable disease. Please see your provider if you have concerns that you are not protected from this preventable disease.

—Dr. Angelique Andrews, Chief Medical Officer, Eastern Iowa Health Center

Measles can be far more than just a rash. In the United States, about one in five unvaccinated people will require hospitalization from measles. Measles can also lead to more severe issues, including pneumonia, brain damage, and pregnancy complications. Measles can result in a condition called Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE). This rare, progressive, and fatal neurological disorder develops as a complication of the measles infection several years after the initial illness.

—Heather Meador, Clinical Services Manager, Linn County Public Health

With the recent measles outbreak, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccines for children. While measles can be challenging but manageable for most, it can lead to serious complications, even death, especially for infants, immunocompromised kids, and even healthy children. Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air, lingering for hours after an infected person leaves. Our best defense is the MMR vaccine.

—Dr. Padget Skogman, pediatrician, Mercy Medical Center

Receiving a measles vaccine provides protection against a serious disease, which is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications. Measles spreads rapidly, so getting vaccinated not only protects you but also helps prevent outbreaks in the community. For most people, the vaccine provides lifelong immunity.

—Dr. Dustin Arnold, Medical Director, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital