Des Moines, Iowa: Measles Case Confirmed in a Child, Exposure Sites Listed in Ankeny and Des Moines

The Polk County Health Department and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services confirmed a new case of measles on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Des Moines Register reported that the case is in a child. State officials said the source of the exposure is still under investigation and that the person was likely exposed during travel, not in Iowa.

The places and times officials listed

Health officials published seven exposure windows in Ankeny and Des Moines. Anyone who was at one of these places at one of these times may have been exposed:

• Walmart Supercenter, 1002 National Drive, Ankeny: Thursday, Nov. 5, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Hy-Vee, 410 North Ankeny Boulevard, Ankeny: Friday, Nov. 6, between noon and 3 p.m.
• UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care, Ankeny Medical Park, 3625 North Ankeny Boulevard: Sunday, Nov. 8, between 10:10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
• Iowa Methodist and Blank Children's Hospital waiting room, 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines: Sunday, Nov. 8, between 11:25 a.m. and 1:35 p.m.
• Blank Children's Hospital Emergency Department, Des Moines: Sunday, Nov. 8, between 11:30 a.m. and 5:20 p.m.
• The hallway from the Blank Children's emergency department to the inpatient elevators, Des Moines: Sunday, Nov. 8, between 3:15 p.m. and 5:25 p.m.
• Blank Children's Hospital fourth floor, Des Moines: Sunday, Nov. 8, between 3:20 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.

What exposed people should do

Officials asked people who were at a listed place to monitor for symptoms for 21 days from the exposure. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash. Anyone who develops symptoms should call a doctor or an emergency room before arriving and say they may have been exposed, so the facility can limit further exposures. The state health department said people who have not had the MMR vaccine can receive it within 72 hours of exposure to help prevent illness, and that immunoglobulin given within six days may help in some cases. Polk County also asked people who visited the listed locations to complete an online survey so the department can track potential exposures.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes, and the virus can remain active for up to two hours. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 90 percent of people who come into contact with the virus become infected if they are not vaccinated, and about 1 in 5 infected people end up hospitalized. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after contact. The MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective and is usually given in two doses, the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years.

A statewide count that keeps rising

Iowa had confirmed 50 measles cases in 2026 as of Nov. 5, before this case was announced. The first case of the year was reported in July, and officials had confirmed 17 cases by the end of August. Iowa reported nine cases in all of 2025. State officials said they have evidence the outbreak has spread from person to person. In a news release, Iowa HHS said it anticipates that additional cases may occur, particularly among people who are not protected against measles through vaccination or prior infection, and it urged Iowans to make sure their MMR vaccinations are up to date, particularly before international travel or travel to areas with outbreaks.