Polk County Health Department

05/29/2026

🦟🕷️ Bug bites can do more than itch — they can make you sick. In Iowa, mosquito and tick bites can spread diseases like West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and Alpha-gal syndrome.

🩺 Symptoms may include fever, rash, fatigue, headaches, or body aches. If you feel sick after a bug bite, don’t wait. Contact your doctor.

✅ Protect yourself outdoors:
• Use EPA-registered insect repellent
• Wear long sleeves and pants
• Check for ticks after being outside

🏡 Protect your home:
• Remove standing water
• Trim grass and shrubs
• Keep screens on windows and doors

Enjoy everything Polk County has to offer outdoors — just do it safely. 🌳☀️

05/29/2026

Questions about how water quality impacts health? Start here ➡ YourWaterYourHealth.org

05/28/2026

Big thanks to United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust Company for having us on the Community Difference Makers podcast alongside Des Moines Police.

Preventing youth violence takes all of us — families, schools, neighbors, mentors, and communities working together. Strong connections build safe, healthy communities. 💚

05/27/2026

Our director, Juliann Van Liew, recently joined the Community Difference Makers podcast host Emily Abbas, along with Luke Lynch, community impact officer at United Way of Central Iowa, and Des Moines Police Chief Michael McTaggart, to discuss how public safety, public health, and community impact can work together to address youth violence.

Listen to the episode here: BankersTrust.com/communitydifferencemakers

United Way of Central Iowa and Bankers Trust Company are collaborating on the Community Difference Makers podcast in 2026 to take a deeper look at issues such as housing, food insecurity, childcare, youth violence and more. Episodes include perspectives from nonprofit leaders, community partners and individuals with lived experience.

05/27/2026

May 27, 2026

‼️Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) has issued a Stage II “Water Alert,” which asks residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use by 50 percent.

What You Can Do to Conserve Water:
✅Reduce lawn watering by half and only water when needed
✅Limit lawn watering to one or two days per week.
✅Water during early morning hours to reduce evaporation
✅Avoid watering shaded areas
✅Use a shutoff nozzle when washing vehicles
✅Don’t hose off driveways or walkways
✅Inspect irrigation systems for leaks or broken sprinkler heads
Check sprinkler heads for overspray – avoid shooting water onto sidewalks or driveways

Find additional tips for conserving water in the comments ⬇️

05/27/2026

When it comes to our health, water quality matters. Learn more about our campaign. Stay informed: YourWaterYourHealth.org

05/23/2026

05/22/2026

Whether you're firing up the grill, taking the boat out, or just hanging out, make sure a sober ride is part of your Memorial Day weekend plans! This code is valid from 3pm on 5/22 until 3am on 5/25 and will be capped at 1,000 redemptions.

Thank you to Doll Distributing - Des Moines for providing this voucher!

05/22/2026

We’re excited to see Fire Station 4 officially open its doors today, just a couple blocks from the Polk County Health Department! It’s been wonderful watching the progress and seeing this incredible facility come to life right here in our neighborhood.

Located at 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, the new station brings a state of the art training facility and a dedicated team of firefighters to serve the northwest Des Moines community.

This modern facility includes:
• Four drive thru apparatus bays for swift emergency deployment
• Living quarters to support round the clock readiness
• A full training room and a stair training tower for realistic, on-site preparation

We’re thrilled to have such an important resource in our neighborhood and excited for the impact Fire Station 4 will have on the safety and strength of our community.

05/21/2026

Last night, the Polk County Health Department was honored to take part in the Steps of Hope Iowa Annual Walk. 💜

We connected with so many community members while standing together in support of hope, healing, and recovery.

We are grateful for the inspiring work Steps of Hope Iowa is doing to raise awareness around substance use and reducing the stigma. It's a mission we are proud to stand behind.

Having Narcan on you can save a life - it's simple to use, safe to carry, and everyone should have it on hand. We have Narcan available for free in the vending machine in front of our building at 1907 Carpenter Ave in DSM. If it is out of stock, come to our front desk during business hours.