When Iowa confirmed its first measles case of 2026 this week, public health officials saw more than an isolated case linked to international travel. They saw evidence of a trend that’s forcing doctors and health departments to prepare for measles as a recurring threat.The infected person, a vaccinated adult who contracted measles during international travel, is recovering at home. The case comes as measles continues to surge nationwide after the United States experienced its worst year for the disease in decades.”We’re prepared for this to be a part of our lives for the long haul now, unfortunately,” Polk County Health Director Juliann Van Liew said. “Although Iowa’s had lower cases this year, it is still becoming endemic throughout the nation. We are still seeing pockets of this circulating in a number of states, and we don’t anticipate that going away anytime soon.”A disease doctors rarely saw is becoming part of routine planningFor years, measles was something many physicians rarely encountered.Now, some hospitals are adjusting how they care for patients with symptoms that could indicate the highly contagious virus.At UnityPoint Health, infectious disease physician Dr. Dhruv Patel said the hospital system has added electronic alerts to help clinicians quickly identify possible measles cases.”We have notifications set up on our medical record system where if you come in with a fever, cough, cold and a rash, we have a high degree of suspicion for measles,” Patel said. “We take precautions ourselves and our staff when we see you, just to make sure we don’t expose ourselves and therefore don’t expose other patients.”Those extra precautions reflect how easily measles spreads. Patel says the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, making rapid identification critical.Summer travel can bring measles homeThe Polk County patient contracted measles while traveling internationally, a pattern Patel said often becomes more common during the summer months.”In summer, people tend to travel quite a bit,” Patel said. “That is typically the time where we do see sporadic cases from people who travel abroad and bring it back in.”Health officials say that’s why they encourage travelers to make sure they’re up to date on their MMR vaccination before leaving the country.Although vaccinated people can still contract measles, they’re more likely to experience milder illness and are less likely to spread the virus.A national trend with local implicationsAccording to Iowa HHS, the United States reported 2,289 confirmed measles cases in 2025, resulting in 243 hospitalizations and three deaths.As of July 2, a total of 2,170 confirmed cases had already been reported nationwide in 2026. Iowa recorded nine measles cases in 2025, including one in Polk County, after several years with few reported infections. Vaccination rates remain below the level health officials want to seeWhile this week’s case was linked to international travel, Polk County health leaders say local vaccination rates leave the community more susceptible.Van Liew said the county has not reached the 95% vaccination rate generally considered necessary to achieve herd immunity.”We really need that herd immunity to be closer to 95% vaccination rates,” she said. “So just by nature of that going down here, and kids resuming school again in a month or two, that will likely continue to rear its head again.”The county’s 2024 School Immunization Audit shows the number of students who were not fully vaccinated has more than doubled since 2020, increasing from 2,682 students to 5,516. What happens nextHealth officials continue to monitor anyone who may have been exposed after the infected person visited multiple public locations across central Iowa between July 1 and July 5.Anyone who was at one of those locations during the listed times is encouraged to complete the Polk County Health Department’s online exposure survey, even if they have no symptoms.Officials say the survey allows public health workers to provide recommendations based on a person’s age, vaccination status and other risk factors, since measles symptoms can take up to 21 days to develop after exposure.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

When Iowa confirmed its first measles case of 2026 this week, public health officials saw more than an isolated case linked to international travel. They saw evidence of a trend that’s forcing doctors and health departments to prepare for measles as a recurring threat.

The infected person, a vaccinated adult who contracted measles during international travel, is recovering at home. The case comes as measles continues to surge nationwide after the United States experienced its worst year for the disease in decades.

“We’re prepared for this to be a part of our lives for the long haul now, unfortunately,” Polk County Health Director Juliann Van Liew said. “Although Iowa’s had lower cases this year, it is still becoming endemic throughout the nation. We are still seeing pockets of this circulating in a number of states, and we don’t anticipate that going away anytime soon.”

A disease doctors rarely saw is becoming part of routine planning

For years, measles was something many physicians rarely encountered.

Now, some hospitals are adjusting how they care for patients with symptoms that could indicate the highly contagious virus.

At UnityPoint Health, infectious disease physician Dr. Dhruv Patel said the hospital system has added electronic alerts to help clinicians quickly identify possible measles cases.

“We have notifications set up on our medical record system where if you come in with a fever, cough, cold and a rash, we have a high degree of suspicion for measles,” Patel said. “We take precautions ourselves and our staff when we see you, just to make sure we don’t expose ourselves and therefore don’t expose other patients.”

Those extra precautions reflect how easily measles spreads. Patel says the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, making rapid identification critical.

Summer travel can bring measles home

The Polk County patient contracted measles while traveling internationally, a pattern Patel said often becomes more common during the summer months.

“In summer, people tend to travel quite a bit,” Patel said. “That is typically the time where we do see sporadic cases from people who travel abroad and bring it back in.”

Health officials say that’s why they encourage travelers to make sure they’re up to date on their MMR vaccination before leaving the country.

Although vaccinated people can still contract measles, they’re more likely to experience milder illness and are less likely to spread the virus.

A national trend with local implications

According to Iowa HHS, the United States reported 2,289 confirmed measles cases in 2025, resulting in 243 hospitalizations and three deaths.

As of July 2, a total of 2,170 confirmed cases had already been reported nationwide in 2026. Iowa recorded nine measles cases in 2025, including one in Polk County, after several years with few reported infections.

Vaccination rates remain below the level health officials want to see

While this week’s case was linked to international travel, Polk County health leaders say local vaccination rates leave the community more susceptible.

Van Liew said the county has not reached the 95% vaccination rate generally considered necessary to achieve herd immunity.

“We really need that herd immunity to be closer to 95% vaccination rates,” she said. “So just by nature of that going down here, and kids resuming school again in a month or two, that will likely continue to rear its head again.”

The county’s 2024 School Immunization Audit shows the number of students who were not fully vaccinated has more than doubled since 2020, increasing from 2,682 students to 5,516.

What happens next

Health officials continue to monitor anyone who may have been exposed after the infected person visited multiple public locations across central Iowa between July 1 and July 5.

Anyone who was at one of those locations during the listed times is encouraged to complete the Polk County Health Department’s online exposure survey, even if they have no symptoms.

Officials say the survey allows public health workers to provide recommendations based on a person’s age, vaccination status and other risk factors, since measles symptoms can take up to 21 days to develop after exposure.