Polk County testing dozens for measles after a vaccinated resident is infected

Polk County testing dozens for measles after a vaccinated resident is infected
KCCI EIGHT NEWS AT SIX STARTS NOW. ONE DAY AFTER POLK COUNTIES CONFIRMED MEASLES CASE, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO KEEP IT FROM SPREADING. PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ARE NOW BEING TESTED. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS LIVE WITH THE POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH THE LATEST. TODD, IT’S BEEN A PRETTY BUSY DAY THERE TODAY. IT HAS BEEN. THERE’S A BIG CONCERN ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ARE NOW TURNING UP HERE AT THE POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. DOZENS OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP LAST NIGHT AND ALSO TODAY TO GET TESTED. OF COURSE, THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT. IT’S IMPORTANT ALSO TO KNOW WHERE THESE PLACES ARE THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO. ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MEASLES IS JUST HOW TRANSMISSIBLE IT IS. IT’S REALLY EASY TO SPREAD IT FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER. IT’S BEEN A BUSY DAY FOR POLK COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR JULIE ANNE VAN LOO. SHE’S TRYING TO PROTECT CENTRAL IOWANS FROM A MEASLES OUTBREAK. SHE SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHERE THE POSSIBLE MEASLES EXPOSURES MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. THE INFECTED PERSON WAS AT TWO LOCATIONS IN WEBSTER CITY. HERE’S A MAP THAT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC TIMES OF DAY YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. AND HERE’S A LOOK AT A MAP OF LOCATIONS IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. THEY INCLUDE A CHURCH, MERCY, ONE URGENT CARE, EVEN A CLOTHING STORE IN ALTOONA. AGAIN, THE SPECIFIC SITES AND TIMES ARE ON KCCI.COM. MEASLES SYMPTOMS CAN APPEAR 7 TO 10 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST EXPOSURE, WHICH WAS JULY 1ST. THEY INCLUDE COUGH, FEVER, RUNNY NOSE, WATERY EYES, WHITE SPOTS IN THE MOUTH AND A RED RASH THAT OFTEN STARTS ON THE FACE, AND THE VIRUS CAN STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE. MEASLES CAN HANG AROUND IN THE AIR IN A SPACE FOR AROUND TWO HOURS, SO THAT MEANS YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN ANY CONTACT WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING TO ACQUIRE MEASLES. THE POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO GO TO ANY HEALTH CARE LOCATION WITHOUT CALLING FIRST, SO YOU DON’T SPREAD THE MEASLES IF YOU’RE CONTAGIOUS, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CALL AHEAD OR FILL OUT THIS SURVEY ON THE POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE. WHAT WE REALLY NEED MOST FROM PEOPLE IS TO GO TO POLK COUNTY, IOWA.GOV. THERE IS A SURVEY LINK PINNED AT THE TOP OF THAT PAGE THAT’S GOING TO HELP FOLKS. LET US KNOW IF YOU WERE IN THAT DOLLAR GENERAL, IN THAT CHURCH THAT DAY, SO THAT WE CAN CALL YOU AND GET YOU THE HELP THAT YOU NEED. AND YOU MIGHT WONDER HOW A PERSON WHO WAS VACCINATED CAN STILL GET THE MEASLES. THERE IS NO VACCINE THAT IS 100% EFFECTIVE. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THIS PERSON DOUBLE VACCINATED, THEY HAVE A LESSER LIKELIHOOD OF BECOMING VERY SICK. THIS PERSON IS RECUPERATING VERY WELL. THEY ALSO HAVE A LOWER LIKELIHOOD OF SPREADING IT. AND THAT ALSO SAYS IT MAY TAKE 2 OR 3 WEEKS TO SOUND THE ALL CLEAR. IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE DO TEST POSITIVE FOR MEASLES HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. WE’RE LIVE IN DES MOINES.
Updated: 8:08 PM CDT Jul 9, 2026
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Polk County testing dozens for measles after a vaccinated resident is infected
Updated: 8:08 PM CDT Jul 9, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
The Polk County Health Department has confirmed its first measles case of 2026 in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled internationally, prompting testing and precautions across the area. Central Iowans who believe they may have been exposed to measles are now seeking testing, with dozens already showing up and more expected. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of identifying potential exposure sites. “One of the really important things to know about measles is just how transmissible it is. It’s really easy to spread it from one person to another,” said Juliann Van Liew, Polk County Health Department director. The infected individual visited two locations in Webster City and several sites in the Des Moines metro area, including a church, MercyOne Urgent Care and a clothing store in Altoona. Measles symptoms can appear seven to 14 days after exposure, which began July 1. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, white spots in the mouth and a red rash that often starts on the face. “Measles can hang around in the air, in a space or for around two hours. So, that means you don’t have to be in any contact with another human being to acquire measles,” Van Liew said. The health department is urging people not to visit healthcare facilities without calling ahead to avoid spreading the virus if they are contagious. Instead, residents are encouraged to complete a survey on the Polk County Health Department website to report potential exposure. “What we really need most from people is to go to Polk County, Iowa, dot gov. There is a survey linked, pinned at the top of that page that’s going to help folks. Let us know if you were in that Dollar General, in that church that day, so that we can call you and get you the help that you need,” Van Liew said. Addressing concerns about how a vaccinated person contracted measles, Van Liew explained, “There is no vaccine that is 100% effective. But what we do know is by virtue of having this person double vaccinated, they have a lesser likelihood of becoming very sick. This person is recuperating very well. They also have a lower likelihood of spreading it.” Van Liew noted that it may take several weeks to determine the extent of the outbreak, depending on how many people are affected.
DES MOINES, Iowa —

The Polk County Health Department has confirmed its first measles case of 2026 in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled internationally, prompting testing and precautions across the area

Central Iowans who believe they may have been exposed to measles are now seeking testing, with dozens already showing up and more expected. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of identifying potential exposure sites

“One of the really important things to know about measles is just how transmissible it is. It’s really easy to spread it from one person to another,” said Juliann Van Liew, Polk County Health Department director

The infected individual visited two locations in Webster City and several sites in the Des Moines metro area, including a church, MercyOne Urgent Care and a clothing store in Altoona. Measles symptoms can appear seven to 14 days after exposure, which began July 1. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, white spots in the mouth and a red rash that often starts on the face

“Measles can hang around in the air, in a space or for around two hours. So, that means you don’t have to be in any contact with another human being to acquire measles,” Van Liew said

The health department is urging people not to visit healthcare facilities without calling ahead to avoid spreading the virus if they are contagious. Instead, residents are encouraged to complete a survey on the Polk County Health Department website to report potential exposure

“What we really need most from people is to go to Polk County, Iowa, dot gov. There is a survey linked, pinned at the top of that page that’s going to help folks. Let us know if you were in that Dollar General, in that church that day, so that we can call you and get you the help that you need,” Van Liew said

Addressing concerns about how a vaccinated person contracted measles, Van Liew explained, “There is no vaccine that is 100% effective. But what we do know is by virtue of having this person double vaccinated, they have a lesser likelihood of becoming very sick. This person is recuperating very well. They also have a lower likelihood of spreading it.”

Van Liew noted that it may take several weeks to determine the extent of the outbreak, depending on how many people are affected

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