Polk County Tests Dozens After 1st 2026 Measles Case in Vaccinated Traveler

3 articles · Updated · KCCI Des Moines · Jul 10

Dozens of central Iowa residents have already sought measles testing after Polk County confirmed its first 2026 case in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled internationally.
Exposure began July 1, and the infected person visited sites in Webster City and the Des Moines area, including a church, MercyOne Urgent Care and an Altoona clothing store.
Polk County says measles can linger in the air for about two hours, making it highly transmissible even without direct contact and prompting officials to map exposure sites quickly.
Health officials are telling potentially exposed residents to complete an online county survey and call ahead before seeking care, rather than showing up unannounced at clinics or hospitals.
The patient is recovering well, and officials said vaccination likely reduced both illness severity and transmission risk, though it may take weeks to determine whether more cases emerge.