Measles in Iowa: Child in Johnson County becomes third case

Unvaccinated child in eastern Iowa becomes third confirmed measles case in the state

AND THANK YOU. BREAKING AT FOUR. A THIRD CASE OF MEASLES HAS BEEN CONFIRMED HERE IN IOWA. IT COMES JUST A DAY AFTER HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORTED THE STATE’S SECOND CASE OF THE YEAR IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE. OFFICIALS SAY THIS LATEST CASE IS A CHILD IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THE FIRST CASE WAS REPORTED HERE IN CENTRAL IOWA LAST MONTH. ��vlog’S MARCUS MCINTOSH TALKED WITH THE DOCTOR TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. MARCUS. STACEY BENNETT. EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE WITH A DOCTOR INSIDE THE IOWA CLINIC BEHIND ME HERE IN WEST DES MOINES. HE TELLS US MEASLES SYMPTOMS APPEAR 7 TO 14 DAYS AFTER CONTACT WITH THE VIRUS, STARTING WITH A HIGH FEVER, COUGH, RUNNY NOSE AND RED, WATERY EYES. WE LEARNED THAT IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, THE CONCERN IS THE FACT THE MEASLES ARE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS. STARTING OFF, AS WE MENTIONED, WITH THOSE SYMPTOMS AND STARTING WITH A NORMAL AS A NORMAL VIRUS. IN FACT, IF SOMEONE WALKS INTO OUR CLINIC WITH FULL BLOWN SYMPTOMS, THEY SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN DUE TO THE FACT THE DISEASE CAN REMAIN AIRBORNE FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS AFTER SOMEONE WITH MEASLES PASSES THROUGH SOMEWHERE. PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED OR DON’T HAVE COMPLETE IMMUNITY HAVE A VERY HIGH RISK OF GETTING THE DISEASE. IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS, EVEN DEATH, THAT WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THAT AS CONFINED AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT’S WHAT FREAKS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY OUT ABOUT THIS. IS THAT, LIKE, THERE’S JUST SO MUCH CONTAGION THAT PEOPLE DON’T EVEN HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH, WITH MEASLES. WE REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING DONE TO STOP THE SPREAD OR MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF MEASLES. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY. WE’RE LIVE IN WEST DES MOINES. I’M MARCU

Updated: 5:28 PM CDT Jun 11, 2025

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Unvaccinated child in eastern Iowa becomes third confirmed measles case in the state

Updated: 5:28 PM CDT Jun 11, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The state’s third case of measles was confirmed by Johnson County Public Health Wednesday, KCRG reports. A release from Johnson County Public Health says an unvaccinated child living in Johnson County has measles after being exposed during international travel.During the child’s infectious period, they visited the Costco in Coralville (2900 Heartland Drive) between 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. June 4, a Walmart in Iowa City (919 Highway 1 West) between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on June 4, and the Marshall’s in Coralville (1451 Coral Ridge Avenue) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 5.Johnson County Public Health warns that anyone present at these locations at the above dates may have been exposed to measles.» Subscribe to ��vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayDr. Daniel Pelzer, a pediatrician at the Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines, said that while the measles vaccine is highly effective, it is still possible to spread.“We would expect more cases in unvaccinated people, but there is the off chance that even a vaccinated person could contract the illness,” Pelzer said.Pelzer emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date on vaccines and monitoring Potential symptoms such as a fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads.Public response to the recent cases has been mixed.“It doesn’t concern me necessarily, because it's something that I’m not surprised about,” Kaitlyn Wells told ��vlog's Marcus McIntosh on Wednesday.Others express concern over the virus’s impact.“I don’t know on what type of scale it is, but I do think that it sends a message that, you know, we can’t continue to ignore things that cripple not only the adults, but our young children,” said John Spinks.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa —

The state’s third case of measles was confirmed by Johnson County Public Health Wednesday, .

A release from Johnson County Public Health says an unvaccinated child living in Johnson County has measles after being exposed during international travel.

During the child’s infectious period, they visited the Costco in Coralville (2900 Heartland Drive) between 11:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. June 4, a Walmart in Iowa City (919 Highway 1 West) between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on June 4, and the Marshall’s in Coralville (1451 Coral Ridge Avenue) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 5.

Johnson County Public Health warns that anyone present at these locations at the above dates may have been exposed to measles.

» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: |

Dr. Daniel Pelzer, a pediatrician at the Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines, said that while the measles vaccine is highly effective, it is still possible to spread.

“We would expect more cases in unvaccinated people, but there is the off chance that even a vaccinated person could contract the illness,” Pelzer said.

Pelzer emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date on vaccines and monitoring Potential symptoms such as a fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads.

Public response to the recent cases has been mixed.

“It doesn’t concern me necessarily, because it's something that I’m not surprised about,” Kaitlyn Wells told ��vlog's Marcus McIntosh on Wednesday.

Others express concern over the virus’s impact.

“I don’t know on what type of scale it is, but I do think that it sends a message that, you know, we can’t continue to ignore things that cripple not only the adults, but our young children,” said John Spinks.

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Unvaccinated child in eastern Iowa becomes third confirmed measles case in the state

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