Days after the Florida Legislature, in a special session, refused to consider a bill requested by Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow parents more leeway to opt their children out of mandated school vaccinations, the Florida Department of Health reported four more cases of measles.
Palm Beach County reported its first case of the year. Two more were reported in Broward County, and one was reported in Hillsborough, bringing the state total to 149 for the year as of April 25, according to FDOH data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned state and local health departments this week that more cases in the United States can be expected soon as the busy summer travel season approaches.
Florida has reported the fourth-most measles cases in the country this year, following South Carolina (668), Utah (428), and Texas (181), based on data from the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. (Scroll down for a county-by-county breakdown)
Collier County has reported the most in the state, with 107, after an outbreak swept through the campus of Ave Maria University, a small Catholic school with roughly 1,400 students.
As of April 23, the CDC reported 1,792 confirmed cases nationwide in 2026 across 37 states. More than 70% of the victims were under the age of 19, the CDC said, and 20% were under 5 years old. In all cases, 92% were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.
Measles, which has no cure, was declared eliminated in the U.S. more than a quarter-century ago. The CDC says that if 95% of more of the population has been vaccinated, community immunity (herd immunity) keeps everyone safe. But vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners dropped to 92.5% by the 2024-2025 school year, amid increased vaccine skepticism, leaving more children at risk. In Florida, that percentage was down to 88%, the CDC estimated.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious, incurable respiratory virus that causes a blotchy rash. It was once a common childhood disease, but it was nearly eradicated by widespread vaccinations.
Measles is contagious up to four days before symptoms appear and linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
About 1 in 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized, according to the CDC and the FDOH. One in 10 may develop ear infections that can lead to permanent hearing loss. One in 20 will develop pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children. About one in every 1,000 people who get measles will develop brain swelling (encephalitis) that can lead to brain damage, and one to three of those people will die.
There is no cure. Health professionals can only treat the symptoms and address complications.
What are the symptoms of measles? What does measles look like?
Symptoms do not show until at least a week after infection, during which the victim is highly contagious. If you believe your child has been exposed to measles, contact your health care provider immediately. According to the CDC:
Who is at risk for measles?
Everyone who has not been vaccinated against it is at risk for measles, but it is especially dangerous for children under five, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. Complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
Is there a measles vaccine? How can I protect my child from measles?
Measles is easily prevented by one of two vaccines, a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) or a measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (MMVR). The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first at 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years.
Measles vaccinations have been proven to be 97% effective for two doses and 93% for one dose, according to the CDC.
Do adults need a measles booster of MMVR? Does a measles vaccine last for life?
The MMR and MMVR vaccines usually protect people for life against measles, the CDC said. If you’ve already been vaccinated, you don’t need a booster.
However, adults born between 1963 and 1967 may require a modernized vaccine, according to Healthline. Adults born in 1957 or later can still get the MMR vaccine. The CDC states that adults may need 1 or 2 doses of the MMR vaccine if they lack evidence of immunity.
People born before 1957, before the vaccine was available, are expected to have been exposed to measles naturally because practically everyone was.
Where have cases of measles been reported in Florida?
According to April 18 data from the FDOH, delayed a week:
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network-Florida, contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida county reports first measles case, more reported across state
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
