The Resurgence of Measles

“So far, we have been fortunate not to have any cases of Measles in the great state of Iowa. However, in 2025 we have seen measles cases increase significantly in the United States, including cases in three of our neighbor states. While I believe vaccination is a personal choice between you and your doctor, I strongly encourage each and every one of you to get the measles vaccine if you have not done so already.”

– Governor Kim Reynolds

This quote is fake. I made it up.

I came up a statement I would like to see from Governor Reynolds regarding the status of measles in the United States; I hope she issues some statement to that effect. I would have skipped the part of it being a choice between you and your doctor, not because I don’t believe it’s true, but because I think it weakens the call to action, but I think it more closely aligns with a message she would be comfortable giving.

I encourage civil, bipartisan discussion on this post.

Please look at the two pictures provided on yearly measles cases – one shows measles cases from 1985 to 2025, and one shows from 2000-2025. The reduction in cases from 1990-1993 was so significant the chart is difficult to even understand when you start with the earlier timeline. Both of these charts were taken from the CDC webpage on Measles – the same one I link below.

What changed in the early 1990s that made cases fall so much? The CDC recommended a second dose of the measles vaccine in children in 1989. This is science in action – creating a safe vaccine, studying the results, and recommending modifications as data shows the results.

There were nearly 10,000 cases in 1991, just over 2,000 cases in 1992, and the most since then was in 2019 with just over 1,200. We have already surpassed 1,000 cases in 2025 in early May. There have cases in Missouri, in Illinois, and in Minnesota. Granted, that only accounts for a total of 10 cases, it seems that it is only a matter of time until we see cases in Iowa.

Thankfully, measles vaccination rates remain high. Iowa ranks 31^st in the U.S. for measles vaccination rate, but that still is a large majority of 91.5% vaccinated, but falls short of target and the rates have decrease over the last few years. Various local officials have called for increased vaccinations, but not a single Iowa politician has put out a call for the public to get vaccinated.

In addition to measles, the United States is cutting funding for surveillance of tuberculosis, pulled back on health tracking data, and we are seeing polio cases increase across the world though it has not yet spread like other viral disease.

Sources:

History of Measles Vaccine – National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

Measles hits 1,000 cases — for the second time in 30 years – POLITICO

Missouri health department announces first measles case of 2025 • Missouri Independent

City of Chicago :: Measles: Get The Facts

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-measles-case-april-2025/

MMR Vaccination Rates in US States – WorldAtlas

Iowa’s measles vaccination rates below target – Axios Des Moines