Overview
- Health officials confirmed on Wednesday that a vaccinated Polk County adult who recently traveled internationally tested positive for measles and is recovering at home.
- Public exposure locations and times from July 1–5 have been published and Polk County is asking anyone who was at those sites to complete an online exposure survey and seek testing if directed.
- Dozens of people have presented for testing and health leaders are urging residents to call ahead before visiting clinics to avoid spreading the virus in health-care settings.
- Officials say two doses of MMR are about 97% effective but vaccinated people can still get measles; the county’s vaccination rate remains below the roughly 95% level needed for herd immunity and exposed unvaccinated students must stay home for three weeks under state rules.
- Hospitals have added electronic alerts and stepped-up infection controls to spot possible cases quickly as public-health teams trace contacts while national measles counts from Iowa HHS show high case totals that are sustaining pressure on local systems.