The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) recognize October 4, 2019, as annual Disease Interventionist Specialist (DIS) Recognition Day. DIS work across many program areas in public health; however, their primary focus is in the field of sexual health and specifically sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. 

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds the immunization rates for Iowa teens rose from 2017 to 2018 and exceed both the regional (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) and national averages.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced the first case of West Nile virus infection reported in 2019, an older adult (aged 61 years to 80 years) male from Audubon County who has since recovered.

In conjunction with NIIW, CDC has established the Childhood Immunization Champion Award recognizing individuals who make a significant contribution to improve public health through their work. Iowa’s 2019 Childhood Immunization Champion is Dr. Ashlesha Kaushik. 

A second case of measles has been confirmed in Iowa, through testing at the State Hygienic Lab. This case is an unvaccinated Northeast Iowa resident, who is a household contact of the recently confirmed measles case (an unvaccinated Northeast Iowa resident with recent travel to Israel, where measles transmission is occurring).