Southwest Florida facing mounting measles outbreak

Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Tue, February 3, 2026 at 5:07 AM EST

Ave Maria in eastern Collier County has at least 11 cases of measles so far that appear to be based at Ave Maria University.

It is the first measles outbreak in Southwest Florida, part of a surge in the highly contagious illness that is likely due to fewer people get vaccinated.

There were six confirmed cases but the expectation is there are 11 positive cases as of mid-day Feb. 2, according to a certified physician assistant at the Mater Dei Clinic in Ave Maria

The case count is likely to rise as testing is ongoing at Mater Dei, at the university and elsewhere in the community.

Unvaccinated children are at risk of getting measles, but so are other people who are not vaccinated or who have compromised immune systems.

So far the cases have been confined to the university.

"We are confident there are 11 cases, all restricted to university students," Anthony Musingo, certified physician assistant at the clinic, said Monday.

Measles begins with a blotchy red rash that typically appears on the face and then spreads to the body of the person infected.

"I'm told three to four (students) have been hospitalized," Musingo said.

Officials at Naples Comprehensive Health , at Lee Health in Lee County, and at Physicians Regional Healthcare System all said Feb. 2 they did not have any patients admitted with measles.

There are no reports of measles in Collier schools, according to Chad Oliver, spokesman for the school district.

"Collier County Public Schools has received no report of students or employees with measles," he said. "District staff remain in communication with the Florida Department of Health in Collier County to seek guidance related to measles."

The Mater Dei clinic has confirmed three cases and a local pediatrician has had two cases,  Musingo said. The others likely got tested by the university, he said.

"The university has a nurse conducting testing on campus," Musingo said.

Four Florida counties have had measles cases so far in 2026 for a total of seven cases, according to the state Department of Health’s website for reportable diseases as of Jan. 24.

The other cases are in Duval, St. John’s, Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

The website has not been updated to include Collier's cases.

What is the state doing?

The state Department of Health is on campus to help provide additional resources, including vaccines, according to Kristine Hollingsworth, public information officer for Florida Department of Health in Collier County.

The measles vaccine at no cost is available to anyone  through the health department at its locations in Naples and Immokalee. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Musingo said at least two of the positive cases involve people who have been vaccinated.

"At the moment the virus does not appear to have left the university and getting into the community. I think everyone is justifiably very cautious. Beyond that there is no sense of panic," he said.

Getting vaccinated is still the best preventive measure, he said. and While immunity takes several weeks people do have antibodies after a week, he said.

The measles vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing the disease if you are exposed to the virus, according to University of Rochester Medical Center.

Even if a vaccinated person does get measles, symptoms are usually much milder, and they’re less likely to spread it to others.

When did the cases start?

Officials at Mater Dei clinic received notice Jan. 29 that university students had tested positive for measles.

Officials at Ave Maria University could not be reached for comment.

The state Department of Health declined to confirm Jan. 30 any positive cases and issued a statement that read: “The Florida Department of Health cannot comment on ongoing epidemiological investigations and details about specific cases and individuals is confidential.”

Measles is considered one of the most contagious infections for humans. If a person with measles comes in contact with a group of unvaccinated people, there is a 90% chance that the unvaccinated person will become ill, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The state’s website for reportable diseases is current through Jan. 24 and does not reflect cases in Collier.

Unvaccinated children are at risk of getting measles, but so are other people who are not vaccinated or who have compromised immune systems.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection and is one of the most contagious of all known infections.

The virus can linger in the air for about two hours after a person with measles has left the room. It can infect those who enter the room if they are unimmunized, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Florida is one of 17 states so far this year that has seen measles outbreaks that is attributed to fewer people getting vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.

If a person with measles comes in contact with a group of unvaccinated people, there is a 90% chance that the unvaccinated person will become ill, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 588 confirmed cases the last week of January so far in 17 states, including Florida.

The states are Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

For all of 2025, the U.S. saw 2,267 measles cases, the CDC said.

Why is there a measles outbreak?

More people are not getting vaccinated against measles, causing national vaccination rates among school-age children to drop from 95% in 2019 to 92% in 2023.

That rate is considered below the threshold for herd immunity, according to Harvard Health Publishing, part of Harvard Medical School.

This decline is tied to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation that has led to a significant rise in preventable outbreaks.

Nine out of 10 unimmunized children who are in contact with an infected person will contract the virus. The virus can linger in the air for about two hours after a person with measles has left the room. It can infect those who enter the room if they are unimmunized.

The vaccine is not given to those with immune system deficiencies, according to Johns Hopkins. These people are susceptible to measles infection if they are exposed.

Florida state Surgeon General Jospeh Ladapo last year announced he planned to eliminate vaccines required of children to attend public school.

He does not have the authority to eliminate all vaccine requirements; it requires legislative action for some, including for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). That vaccine, along with polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus, requires legislative action to repeal.

People who travel to areas with known measles cases are at risk of getting the disease.

People who travel outside the U.S. to areas where measles is common bring it into the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins.

The vaccine is not given to babies under one  because they are too young to be immunized.

When one or two infected people come into contact with a population that includes unvaccinated people, the virus can spread rather quickly, according to Johns Hopkins.

What are measles symptoms?

Measles is an uncomfortable illness yet can also be lethal.

The infection causes high fever, cough, conjunctivitis (red, runny eyes), runny nose and a rash that begins on the face and eventually covers the entire body. The illness lasts about a week if there are no complications.

When complications do occur, they can include ear infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis or inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent neurologic damage and even death.

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus.

Measles typically begins with:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104°)

• Cough

• Runny nose (coryza)

• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)

Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, there are several groups that are more likely to suffer from measles complications:

• Children younger than 5 years of age

• Adults older than 20 years of age

• Pregnant women

• People with weakened immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection.

UPDATE: 

Meanwhile, a bill that would make it easier for parents to opt their children enrolled in public schools out of required vaccines is now making its way through the Florida Legislature. As measles outbreaks grow across the country, 20 cases had been reported at a southwest Florida Catholic college alone as of February 5. Other cases have been reported in Hillsborough, Manatee and St. Johns counties.