Eight confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Iowa. Out of these eight, five have been inEastern IowaThe seventh documented case occurred in Linn County, with the county’s Public Health Office expressing worry over the rising number of cases.
“Currently, we’re seeing an average of 40 to 50 cases per week at the national level. This is very alarming,” said Heather Meador, supervisor of the clinical branch at Linn County Public Health.
Although measles has been in the news, three individuals from eastern Iowa who spoke with Iowa’s News Now stated they were unaware of the recent outbreak.
Well, I wasn’t even aware that measles had returned to the United States or Iowa,” one person we spoke with mentioned. “I’m not really familiar with it, but I’ve read about one case that was discovered here in Cedar Rapids,” another person added. A third individual noted that it wasn’t being discussed much, saying, “So far recently, there haven’t been too many conversations about it.
The incident in Linn County involved connections throughout the county, including the daycare where Mark Disbrow drops off his children.
“It can be helpful and sometimes makes you a bit angry. Particularly in a place you’re familiar with, like a child care center, where you expect kids to be safe,” Disbrow said.
Meador states that the nation is monitoring the virus and focusing on contact tracing.
“We follow up with the person who has been diagnosed and begin asking about the symptoms they experienced when they first started, where were you when those symptoms began, and what places might you have been in that could have exposed you to measles? Then we want to find out where you were during your contagious period and which locations you visited,” she said.
When the county becomes aware of an exposure, they discuss the person’s vaccination record and ways to safeguard those around them.
The timing of this exposure will influence our actions,” Meador stated. “However, our main goal is to ensure people’s safety.” “Regrettably, if you cannot provide evidence of immunity, we might have to place you in quarantine for up to 21 days, which is a significant period.” “It’s a long time away from work. It’s a long time away from school. It’s a long time away from daily life activities. Therefore, we truly do not want to put people in quarantine.
Linn County Public Health is reminding its residents that it’s the perfect moment to take preventive measures. “If you aren’t aware of your vaccination status, if you don’t have a record at home showing your vaccines, or if you don’t have evidence of immunity from a blood test, this is the time to address it,” Meador stated.
Linn County is providing free vaccinations, and if you experience symptoms such as a high temperature, nasal discharge, coughing, red and teary eyes, and a skin rash, they recommend reaching out to your medical professional.
