Iowa Measles Exposure Locations Released

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Published March 13th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

Iowa health officials have released locations in eastern Iowa where individuals may have been exposed to measles. The notice follows a report of an Illinois resident with confirmed measles traveling through Iowa while infectious. The state is advising unvaccinated individuals born after 1957 who visited the identified location to monitor for symptoms.

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What changed

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) has issued a public notice identifying specific locations and times in Independence, Iowa, where individuals may have been exposed to measles. This notification is in response to an Illinois resident diagnosed with measles who traveled through Iowa during their infectious period. The notice highlights that as of March 5, 2026, there have been 1,281 confirmed measles cases nationally, with 93% unvaccinated, and no cases identified in Iowa residents in 2026 thus far. The identified exposure site is the Comfort Inn and Suites in Independence, IA, between March 4-5, 2026.

Individuals who visited the Comfort Inn and Suites during the specified dates and times, particularly those born after 1957 who are unvaccinated or unsure of their immune status, are advised to monitor for measles symptoms (fever, cough, red/watery eyes, runny nose, rash). They are instructed to call their medical provider or emergency room ahead of arrival if they suspect exposure and have symptoms. The state medical director also recommends considering an accelerated measles vaccination schedule, including an early dose between 6-11 months, and potentially receiving the second routine dose sooner than the standard schedule. Public health officials will directly notify close contacts when possible.

What to do next

Advise patients born after 1957 who visited the identified location during the specified dates to monitor for measles symptoms.
Instruct potentially exposed individuals with symptoms to call their medical provider or ER ahead of arrival.
Consider recommending accelerated MMR vaccination schedules to patients.

Source document (simplified)

Iowa health officials release eastern Iowa locations linked to potential measles exposures

Friday, March 13, 2026
News Release

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) was notified by the Illinois Department of Public Health that an Illinois resident with confirmed measles traveled to Iowa during their infectious period. Iowa HHS is notifying the public of potential exposure locations. As of March 5, a total of 1,281 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States in 2026. Of these, 1,191 (93)% were unvaccinated. In Iowa, nine measles cases were identified in 2025. To date, no measles cases have been identified among Iowa residents in 2026.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, or breathes, and can stay in the air for up to two hours after a person with measles leaves the room . Iowa and Illinois health officials have identified a location visited by the individual while contagious, where the public might have been exposed to measles. Anyone who visited the following location within the listed timeframe should closely monitor for symptoms of measles (e.g., fever, cough, red/watery eyes, runny nose, and a rash). Anyone born in or after 1957 who visited the following locations and is unvaccinated or unsure of their immune status is at higher risk. If you think you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms, call your medical provider or nearest emergency room ahead of time and tell them that you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms before arriving.

Measles exposure locations, dates, and times:

Location:

Comfort Inn and Suites

2100 Swan Lake Blvd, Independence, IA 50644

Date/Time:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 5:30pm through Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 9:00am

“With ongoing measles transmission in the United States, Iowans should make sure they’ve received a measles-containing vaccine and should consider an accelerated measles vaccination schedule for their children,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, State Medical Director.

While the routine measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine schedule is one dose at 12–15 months and a second dose at 4–6 years, Iowans should consider:

An early extra dose of MMR between 6 and 11 months of age (“dose 0”); this dose does NOT count toward the routine series
The first routine dose (dose 1) can be given after 12 months of age, at least 28 days after dose 0
The second routine dose (dose 2) can be given at least 28 days after dose 1, instead of waiting until age 4–6 years For the latest information on measles in Iowa, visit the Iowa HHS Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology disease information page . This page is updated weekly, on Fridays, with current case counts and public health guidance. Iowa HHS will issue a press release when there is a confirmed public exposure that may pose a risk to others. When possible, individuals identified as close contacts will also be notified directly by public health officials.