Potential exposures occurred Nov. 5–8 at three Ankeny locations and four areas of a Des Moines hospital. Some preventive treatments must be given within days of exposure.
Updated Nov. 12, 2026. Exposure information reflects Iowa HHS’s Nov. 11 alert. The latest statewide case count available at this review is dated Nov. 5.
By Hola Iowa
IOWA — People who visited a Walmart, Hy-Vee or urgent care clinic in Ankeny, or certain areas of Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, may have been exposed to measles between Nov. 5 and 8, according to a Nov. 11 alert from Iowa health officials.
The warning identifies three locations in Ankeny and four areas within the same Des Moines hospital. Iowa HHS and the Polk County Health Department confirmed a measles case linked to the alert. Officials believe the person was likely exposed while traveling, although the source remains under investigation.
Ankeny exposure periods: Walmart, Hy-Vee and urgent care
The three newly reported Ankeny exposure periods were:
| Location | Date and possible exposure time |
|---|---|
| Walmart Supercenter, 1002 National Dr., Ankeny, IA 50021 | Thursday, Nov. 5: 5–8 p.m. |
| Hy-Vee, 410 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50023 | Friday, Nov. 6: noon–3 p.m. |
| UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care – Ankeny Medical Park, 3625 N. Ankeny Blvd., Suite E, Ankeny, IA 50023 | Sunday, Nov. 8: 10:10 a.m.–1:15 p.m. |
Four exposure areas at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines
All four hospital exposure periods occurred Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1200 Pleasant St., Des Moines, IA 50309. They concern different areas of one hospital complex, not four separate hospitals.
| Hospital area | Possible exposure time |
|---|---|
| 4th floor | 3:20–10:45 p.m. |
| Hallway from Blank Children’s Emergency Department to the inpatient elevators, including the Methodist Main Entrance area | 3:15–5:25 p.m. |
| Emergency Department | 11:30 a.m.–5:20 p.m. |
| Iowa Methodist / Blank Children’s Hospital waiting room | 11:25 a.m.–1:35 p.m. |
These are periods when someone might have been exposed. Being present at a listed location does not mean a person contracted measles.
Earlier measles exposures in Keokuk and Osage
The Nov. 11 alert also repeats three exposure periods previously announced in Keokuk and Osage. They are not additional new exposures reported on Nov. 11.
| Location | Date and possible exposure time |
|---|---|
| Hy-Vee, 3111 Main St., Keokuk, IA 52632 | Friday, Oct. 30: 1:30–3:45 p.m. |
| Mitchell County Regional Health Center, 616 N. 8th St., Osage, IA 50461 | Friday, Oct. 30: 10:55 a.m.–2:15 p.m. |
| Mitchell County Regional Health Center, 616 N. 8th St., Osage, IA 50461 | Thursday, Oct. 29: 9:45 a.m.–1 p.m. |
The previous dates were included in the state’s Nov. 6 exposure notice.
MMR and immune globulin have short post-exposure time limits
People who were at any listed location during the specified time and are unsure whether they are immune should contact a healthcare professional or local public health department promptly. Preventive treatment depends on the person’s medical history, eligibility and how much time has passed since exposure.
Under CDC recommendations, an MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of initial exposure may prevent measles or reduce its severity in eligible people. Immune globulin given within six days of exposure may help certain susceptible people, particularly those at higher risk of severe disease. A healthcare or public health professional must determine which option, if any, is appropriate.
Because these exposures occurred Nov. 5–8, some treatment windows have already closed. Others may still be relevant, depending on the specific exposure time and medical assessment. People should not delay seeking professional guidance.
Iowa HHS advises anyone potentially exposed to watch for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash. Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid exposing others and call a healthcare provider, urgent care clinic or emergency department before arriving so staff can take precautions.
Iowa’s latest posted measles total: 50 cases as of Nov. 5
Iowa HHS’s statewide measles table still listed 50 confirmed cases in 2026 as of Nov. 5 at the time of this review. Of those, 29 were confirmed through laboratory testing and 21 through an epidemiological link to a laboratory-confirmed case. Both categories meet the public health definition of a confirmed case.
The 50 cases included 28 people ages 5–19, 15 adults ages 20 and older, and seven children younger than 5. Forty-eight patients were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Five infections were travel-associated, while 45 were acquired locally.
The case mentioned in the Nov. 11 alert cannot automatically be added to that count. The alert did not provide a revised statewide total. Iowa HHS normally updates its case table on Thursdays, so readers should consult the official dashboard for any newer figures.
Two MMR doses are about 97% effective against measles
The CDC reports that two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, compared with about 93% for one dose. Routine childhood recommendations call for a first dose at ages 12–15 months and a second at ages 4–6 years. Recommendations can differ for people with particular exposure risks.
Related: Number of Polk County students not fully vaccinated nearly doubles since 2019.
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