Measles Outbreak: Iowa & US Cases Rise – 2024 Update
- are grappling with measles outbreaks in 2025, with cases linked to both international travel and local transmission.
- One unvaccinated adult died March 6 from a measles-related illness after not seeking medical treatment.
- In Oklahoma,health officials have confirmed 17 cases of measles and three probable cases.
U.S.states face rising measles cases in 2025.Unvaccinated individuals and international travel fuel the outbreaks. Several states, including Iowa and Kansas, report concerning case numbers, prompting health officials too urge heightened vigilance. One unvaccinated adult has died. Colorado’s outbreak links to a flight, while outbreaks are also surging near international borders. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on the escalating measles situation. Vaccination remains key to preventing further spread of this highly contagious disease.Discover what’s next in the fight against measles.
Measles Outbreaks Reported Across Multiple U.S. States
Several states across the U.S. are grappling with measles outbreaks in 2025, with cases linked to both international travel and local transmission. Health officials are urging vaccination to prevent further spread of the disease.
One unvaccinated adult died March 6 from a measles-related illness after not seeking medical treatment.
In Oklahoma,health officials have confirmed 17 cases of measles and three probable cases. The state health department is not releasing specific county data.
Arizona’s Navajo County has reported four measles cases, all among unvaccinated individuals with recent international travel history. These cases are believed to be linked to a single source, according to the county health department on June 9.
Colorado has recorded 16 measles cases this year, including an outbreak of 10 related cases traced to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May. Four individuals were passengers on the flight with the initial case, an out-of-state traveler.Five others contracted measles through exposure at the airport, and one case occurred elsewhere. An unrelated case involves a fully vaccinated Boulder County resident who recently traveled to Europe,where measles is more prevalent. Archuleta and Pueblo counties have also reported measles cases.
Georgia is managing a three-case outbreak in metro Atlanta,with the moast recent infection confirmed Wednesday. The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025; the other three are tied to a separate outbreak from January.
Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the southern part of the state, which grew to eight cases by June 6. No new cases have been reported as, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state’s other two cases this year were in Cook County and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak.
Iowa has reported six measles cases in 2025. Four are part of an outbreak in eastern Johnson county, affecting members of the same household. County health officials said the individuals are isolating at home, minimizing further spread.
Kansas is experiencing a notable outbreak, with 79 cases across 11 counties in the southwestern region. Three people have been hospitalized. Most cases are connected, with a concentration in Gray County.
Montana has confirmed 22 measles cases as of Friday.Gallatin County accounts for 14 of these cases, marking Montana’s first measles outbreak in 35 years. Flathead and Yellowstone counties each have two cases, while Hill County has four. Outbreaks are also occurring in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
North Dakota, which had not seen measles since 2011, has reported 34 cases as of June 6, a number that has remained steady. All confirmed cases involve unvaccinated individuals, with two people requiring hospitalization. Williams County, bordering Montana, has 16 cases. Grand Forks County has 10 cases, Cass County has seven, and Burke County, near Saskatchewan, Canada, has one case.
Measles cases have also been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, south Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Health officials have declared previous outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania over after six weeks without new cases. Tennessee’s outbreak also appears to be resolved.
The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted in May that more than twice as many measles cases have originated outside the U.S. compared to the previous year, primarily among unvaccinated Americans returning home. in 2019, the U.S.recorded 1,274 cases,nearly losing its measles elimination status.
What’s next
Health officials continue to monitor the situation and encourage vaccination to prevent further measles outbreaks. The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles, mumps, and rubella.