Health Alerts & Information

health alerts and information
This page contains information on current or emerging public health issues and relevant guidance for Scott County residents. 

Current Featured Topics:

  • Ebola
  • Kratom
  • Measles
  • New World Screwworm
  • Ticks

 

This page is updated weekly. Last update was made on 9/14/2026.

 

Ebola

What to Know

Ebola disease is caused by a group of viruses that can cause serious illness and death. There is a current outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) occurring in certain countries, which is a type of Ebola disease. Ebola disease is spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person. You cannot get Ebola from simply being near someone or passing them in public spaces because it does not spread through the air.

Exposure Risk

As of September 2026, the exposure risk to Ebola to Scott County residents who have not traveled to a country with Ebola cases is VERY LOW. There are zero (0) confirmed cases in the US at this time.

Recommended Actions

No specific actions are recommended to the general public at this time. Travelers arriving from affected areas are being routed through select airports for enhanced entry screening.

Resources

 

Kratom

What to Know

Kratom is a supplement sold as an energy booster, pain reliever, etc. that contains psychoactive compounds that act on opioid receptors in the brain. Products containing kratom can have powerful opioid-like effects and pose serious health risks. While some of these products can be sold over the counter, they can still lead to dependence, severe illness, overdose, and death.

On August 26, 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration classified three synthetic kratom-derived compounds as Schedule 1 controlled substances. Retailers have been urged to review shelves closely, but some products may still be available for sale over the counter. Many Iowans may not realize the serious risks these products pose.

Recommended Actions

State officials are recommending Iowans take the following steps:

  • Avoid concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products.
  • Know the signs of an opioid-type overdose and call 911 immediately if someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally. Use naloxone (e.g., Narcan) if available.
  • Seek help early for concerns about kratom dependence or withdrawal. Visit the link below or call Scott County Community Services at 563-326-8723 to get connected to an Opioid Care Coordinator.
  • Call or text 988 for crisis support.
  • Call 855-581-8111 or text 855-895-8398 (Your Life Iowa) for 24/7 support and connection to local resources.

Resources

 
Measles

What to Know

Measles is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that is spread through the air by droplets from the nose, throat, and mouth of an infected person. A person may breathe in the droplets or touch a surface contaminated with the droplets and become infected.

Exposure Risk

As of September 2026, the exposure risk to measles to Scott County residents is MODERATE. There are 3,300+ cases in the US so far this year, including in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed 22 cases in Iowa with evidence of person-to-person spread. Iowa HHS and local health officials have identified locations visited by individuals while contagious, where others might have been exposed to measles. Anyone present at these locations during the listed date and time should monitor for symptoms of measles.

Recommended Actions

The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is safe, thoroughly tested, and highly effective in protecting both you and your community. Two doses, given at least 28 days apart, offer the best protection. Visit our Measles page for vaccination recommendations based on your age and risk level.

Important Update - As part of a statewide initiative in response to the ongoing outbreak of measles in Iowa, we are providing the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, free of charge, for all individuals regardless of insurance status or residency. Call us at 563-326-8618 to schedule an appointment. 

If you think you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms, call your medical provider or nearest emergency room BEFORE you arrive to avoid exposing other people.

Resources

 

New World Screwworm

What to Know

New World screwworm (NWS) is a fly that lays eggs in open wounds and body openings (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or genitals), which hatch into parasitic maggots that feed on living tissue or flesh. Starting in June 2026, the USDA confirmed detection of NWS in livestock and companion animals in Texas and New Mexico. NWS infections do not regularly occur in the US, but cases have occurred in travelers returning from areas where flies are present. Symptoms can include feeling or seeing maggots within a skin wound or sore, painful skin wounds or sores that worsen within a few days, a foul-smelling odor from the site, and bleeding from open sores. 

Exposure Risk

As of September 2026, the exposure risk of NWS to Scott County residents is VERY LOW. Person-to-person transmission does not occur. Patients are not at risk for NWS infestation unless they traveled to an affected area within the two weeks before symptom onset.

Recommended Actions

No specific actions are recommended to the general public at this time.

Resources

 

Ticks

What to Know

Emergency room visits for tick bites are higher than normal in many parts of the country right now, including Iowa, according to the CDC's Tick Bite Tracker. Ticks can carry many different pathogens that can cause human disease. Many tickborne diseases have similar signs and symptoms, including fever/chills, aches and pains, and rashes. Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in the US, with an estimated 476,000 patients treated for Lyme disease each year.

Exposure Risk

As of September 2026, the risk of tick bites to Scott County residents is HIGH. There have been 76 emergency room visits for tick bites per 100,000 emergency room visits in the Midwest region so far this year. In 2022, there were 70,000+ total reported cases of tickborne diseases in the US. 

Recommended Actions

If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible. If you develop a rash or fever within several days to weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor. Learn more about reducing tick exposure and how to remove ticks here: https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/health/post/2026/04/28/tick-season-here. 

Resources

 

Iowa Health Alert Network

The Iowa Health Alert Network (HAN) system is a secure, web-based communication system which enables a rapid distribution of critical health information between Iowa HHS and local partners throughout the state. To receive notification of news alerts posted to the Iowa HAN, follow this link to subscribe to the HAN listserv.