The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued an alert that during the months of April and May, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska have reported confirmed cases of measles. Iowa is surrounded.
Measles are highly contagious. Symptoms include:
· Fever of 101° F or higher
· Cough
· Conjunctivitis (eye infections)
· Generalized rash lasting greater than or equal to 3 days
· IDPH recommends that everyone have 2 doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
If you or anyone in your family develops any of the above symptoms, stay home until measles can be confirmed or excluded from the diagnosis by a physician. People with measles are contagious for about 4 days before the rash onset through 4 days after the appearance of the rash (about 8 days total). |