Measles exposure testing underway in Polk County

Key Points:

• Polk County Health Department has confirmed its first measles case of 2026 in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled internationally, leading to increased testing and precautions in the area.
• The infected individual visited multiple locations in Webster City and the Des Moines metro area, including a church, MercyOne Urgent Care, and a clothing store in Altoona, prompting health officials to identify potential exposure sites.
• Measles symptoms, which can appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, white spots in the mouth, and a red rash; the virus can remain airborne for up to two hours, making it highly contagious.
• Health officials urge residents not to visit healthcare facilities without calling ahead and encourage those who may have been exposed to complete a survey on the Polk County Health Department website to facilitate contact and assistance.
• Despite the infected person being double vaccinated, which reduces the severity and likelihood of spreading the disease, health director Juliann Van Liew emphasized that no vaccine is 100% effective and that it may take several weeks to assess the outbreak's full extent.