All articles tagged with #iowa
A measles outbreak in southern Iowa has expanded to 17 cases, with Sunnyside Grocery in Bloomfield added as a potential exposure site on Aug. 15 (11 a.m.–2 p.m.). The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists multiple exposure locations across central and southern Iowa and continues urging vaccination to curb spread.
Iowa HHS added Ottumwa’s Pizza Ranch (1791 Venture Dr) as a new measles exposure site for Aug. 14 (noon–3 p.m.), joining five Des Moines metro locations and two in Bloomfield; the state has 15 measles cases in 2026, with 13 of those patients unvaccinated.
Cook Political Report moved the open Senate races in Iowa and Texas from Lean Republican to Toss Up, highlighting rising competitiveness as Ken Paxton runs for Texas’ open seat and Trump carried both states by double digits in 2024.
Two key Senate races — in Texas and Iowa — have moved from lean Republican to toss-ups per The Cook Political Report, leaving control of the Senate competitive as Democrats seek to flip four seats. In Texas, Republican AG Ken Paxton trails Democrat James Talarico in a tight race amid Paxton’s scandals and cautious GOP fundraising; in Iowa, Democrat-leaning conditions persist in a contest between Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and Democrat Josh Turek, reflecting a challenging environment for Republicans there. National Democrats have yet to pour money into Texas, underscoring the broader, favorable climate for Democrats as the map tightens near the midterms.
Davis County Schools are using their Mustang Mobile Microgrid—a solar-powered, eight-hour mobile generator—to run a mobile hospital trailer that will vaccinate up to 280 people against measles, aiding southern Iowa’s outbreak response; funded largely by an Iowa Rural Development grant via the Iowa Energy Office, the system is designed for emergency use and can serve other districts in need.
Iowa health officials report a measles outbreak in southern Iowa with 12 confirmed cases as of Aug. 16. An interactive map lists locations and times where contagious people may have exposed others, and residents who were at these sites should monitor for symptoms and contact a healthcare provider if they develop fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash.
Southern Iowa's measles outbreak has grown to 12 confirmed cases as officials say the virus is spreading between people. State and local health departments are coordinating with affected families and communities, and have published locations visited by contagious individuals where exposure could have occurred. People who were at those sites during the specified times should monitor for symptoms (fever, cough, red/watery eyes, runny nose, rash) and contact a healthcare provider before presenting to care. Vaccination access is being promoted, and an interactive map of exposure sites is available.
Iowa’s rising cancer rates—now the top issue for voters—have become a central campaign theme in the midterms, with Republicans and Democrats vying to show how to curb pollution from farming (fertilizer runoff, Cafos) and improve water quality and radon safety; candidates propose varied policy changes, while grassroots farmer groups push for broader farming reforms, underscoring that solving the health crisis will require long-term, systemic action beyond a single election.
Rusty Martin, a 66-year-old Iowa man with early-onset Alzheimer’s, plans to travel to Switzerland to end his life with medical aid in dying because it isn’t legal in Iowa; his wife and children support his choice, citing the desire not to lose his mind to the disease, and he has urged Iowa lawmakers to adopt death-with-dignity legislation.
A powerful derecho that began in eastern Iowa swept through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky on Aug. 11 with gusts near 100 mph, causing widespread damage and more than a million power outages; the storm produced EF-1 tornadoes in Delaware County, led to at least one death in Indiana, and prompted emergency declarations and National Guard assistance.
The 2026 Cancer in Iowa report estimates about 1,500 Iowans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year, placing Iowa fourth in the nation for melanoma incidence (33.7 per 100,000). Since 1992, rates have risen 169%, a trend attributed largely to Iowa’s predominantly white population (87.7%). Dermatologists say there is no credible link between sunscreen and cancer, and prevention focuses on sun protection (sunscreen, protective clothing, hats) and avoiding tanning beds, with many cases treated in office settings under the state’s cancer registry network.
Two people died, including 33-year-old Joshua Tack, a principal with the BCLUW Community School District, and several others were seriously injured when a car and a UTV collided in Dubuque County; the crash remains under investigation.
Thunderstorms rolled through Iowa overnight, with 24-hour rainfall totals as of Sunday morning ranging from 2.04 inches in Fort Dodge to under an inch in many other towns as rain continued in some areas.
Black Hawk County health officials warn Iowans to avoid recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico due to cyclospora contamination, stressing that not all lettuce or produce is affected. The recalled lettuce has been distributed in Iowa, and officials note that tracking cyclospora cases can be difficult. For details on the recall and cyclospora cases in Iowa, contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Iowa reports 226 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across 48 counties, including 32 in Polk County. The CDC notes cases in 45 states since May, with some patients having traveled abroad, while the FDA investigates a broader cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated produce and causing diarrhea and weight loss.