DES MOINES, Iowa — As measles cases spread throughout Texas and across the U.S., Iowa parents are reaching out to hospitals with concerns.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets, like a cough or sneeze, according to the Iowa Clinic. Symptoms include a rash that starts on the face and progresses down the body, high fever and a cough.

Measles is not usually deadly, but 2025 saw the first measles related death since 2015. Children under the ages of five are most susceptible to the disease. The Iowa Clinic says this, and the recent outbreak have parents concerned.

“In the minds of parents, I understand why there’s questions,” said Dr. Dan Pelzer a pediatrician with Iowa Clinics. “As pediatrician, I do my best to answer those questions and be on the same side and protect the children and our kids, who are especially susceptible to measles.”

According to the CDC, the nationwide vaccination rate should remain above 95% to keep outbreaks from occurring. The CDC reports that during the 2023-24 school year, 89.1% of Iowa kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles.

Due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, the Iowa Clinic says people who haven’t been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should refrain from travel and areas with high outbreak risk factors.

“If a person with measles were to walk into a room full of unvaccinated people, 90% of them would get measles. It’s that contagious,” said Dr. Pelzer. “If it walks into our clinic, we have to clear out the entire clinic for two or three hours because it can remain airborne for that long.”

The Iowa Clinic shared a fact sheet sharing best practices to keep a child safe from measles, but Pelzer says the best prevention is vaccination.

“I just want to make sure that I’m protecting the children of central Iowa the best that I can, and to me, it’s unequivocal, without a doubt that the best way to do that is by vaccinating them and protecting them from measles,” said Dr. Pelzer.

The CDC recommends a child gets the first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years old. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Pelzer encourages any parents with concerns about measles or vaccinations to contact their child’s pediatrician.