OUTBREAK: Measles cases hit historical record high at Florida school
More than 40 measles cases have been confirmed at Ave Maria University, a private Catholic college in southwest Florida, marking the largest outbreak on an American college campus in recent history.
The Florida Department of Health reported 46 confirmed measles cases across Collier County from January 1 through February 7, with the university as the primary site. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted a surge in measles, with 2,280 confirmed infections in 2025 and more than 900 cases reported so far in 2026.
Ave Maria University requires proof of vaccination for enrollment but allows opt-outs via waivers for religious or personal reasons, as permitted under Florida law. The vast majority of the campus community is vaccinated.
As of February 10, 48 nurse-assessed students had progressed beyond the contagious period and now have natural immunity. All nurse-assessed students within the four-day contagious period following rash onset are in quarantine. The school remains open for normal operations, including in-person classes and Mass.
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The Department of Health states that individuals with a history of measles infection or who have received the full series of measles, mumps, and rubella immunization are 98% protected and unlikely to contract the disease.
Other recent measles activity includes single cases at Clemson University and Anderson University in South Carolina, both leading to quarantines, and potential exposure in two specific classes at the University of Florida's Gainesville campus.