Public Health Alert Issued After Measles Case Found in Central Iowa

Health officials in Polk County are urging residents to remain vigilant following the confirmation of a measles case in a child who visited several busy areas across Ankeny and Des Moines. To help the public determine if they were potentially exposed, the health department has released an interactive map detailing the specific stores and medical facilities the individual visited while contagious.

Among the high traffic sites listed are a Walmart and Hy Vee in Ankeny, along with a UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care center. The alert also extends to several areas within UnityPoint Health’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Blank Children’s Hospital, including emergency department waiting rooms and hallways used between late morning and late evening hours.

Those who believe they were present at any of these locations during the specified timeframes are being asked to fill out an official exposure survey and keep a close eye on their health for twenty one days. Officials warn that early signs of infection often look like a common cold, beginning with fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes before progressing to a characteristic rash.

If someone begins feeling ill, the health department stresses that they should stay home to prevent further spread and phone their doctor before visiting a clinic in person. Particular caution is advised for infants, immunocompromised individuals, or anyone unsure of their vaccination status, who are encouraged to reach out directly to the Polk County Health Department for medical guidance as state totals climb toward fifty confirmed cases.