Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo took part in an interview with News 6 on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. Though he called the measles vaccine effective, he wouldn’t go so far as to urge families to get vaccinated. He emphasized personal choice, saying, “People should decide what goes into their body without coercion.”

The CDC reported that 2026 has brought a sharp jump in measles cases nationwide. At the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, researchers noted Florida’s numbers have soared from just seven cases in 2025 to over 140 this year. When pressed about this spike, Ladapo responded, “Everyone’s gotta get the vaccine,” but his tone suggested hesitation. He pointed to Ave Maria University as a source of the outbreak and brought up the vaccine’s development, referencing concerns frequently raised in debates about vaccination, about the original use of cells derived from fetuses in the 1960s.

The American Academy of Pediatrics directly addressed this claim, stating on its website that although some vaccines use cell lines originating decades ago from two aborted fetuses, no new fetal tissue is involved, and these lines have persisted since then. The final vaccine contains no fetal cells.

So far, the Florida Department of Health has counted cases in several counties, including three in Orange County and one in Osceola.

Ladapo stands by the science that the measles vaccine works, but he’s made it clear he sees vaccination as a choice, not a mandate. “The measles vaccine is effective against measles,” he said, “but ultimately, people should be free to decide what they put into their bodies.”

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Health officials stress that the best way to stop measles is with the MMR vaccine. It’s proven to be both safe and effective.

Measles doesn’t show up right away. Most people feel fine for about a week after being exposed. Then come the first symptoms: a high fever, sometimes over 104°F, along with a cough, runny nose, and watery red eyes (conjunctivitis). These signs often last a few days before tiny white spots (Koplik spots) appear inside the cheeks. Soon after, a flat, red, itchy rash breaks out, usually starting at the face or hairline and then spreading down to the rest of the body. The rash lasts about five or six days.

A few more key points: Someone with measles can spread it to others from four days before the rash shows up to four days after. It’s highly contagious. Complications can be serious, including ear infections, severe diarrhea, pneumonia, or even encephalitis, which is brain swelling.

If you suspect measles, reach out to a healthcare provider right away. Seek emergency care if there’s trouble breathing, a seizure, or extreme drowsiness; these are all signs of something more severe.

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Naples Classical Academy reported a confirmed exposure after a visitor who spent less than three hours on campus tested positive for measles. The Florida Department of Health notified school leaders and has kept up daily contact, according to Head of School Christopher Wester. As a safety measure, the academy canceled all public events until March 3.

This latest exposure adds to growing anxiety about measles in the area. Collier County alone has seen 83 reported cases, including outbreaks at Ave Maria University. Lee County has reported two cases.

So far, no additional cases have surfaced at Naples Classical Academy since the exposure. Wester says he’s confident the situation is under control.

Lee County has also recorded a positive measles test, confirmed Friday by Lee Health. In a statement, Lee Health said, “We had one positive test result. We’re closely monitoring measles activity and coordinating across our teams to stay prepared. This internal teamwork helps us respond quickly and keep resources aligned.”

Lee Health emphasized that its clinical teams follow strict infection prevention protocols and work closely with public health officials. If someone comes in with suspected measles, staff move quickly to isolate the patient and protect everyone in the facility.

Vaccination remains the best defense against measles, Lee Health stressed. They urge anyone interested in the vaccine to reach out to their primary care provider or the Florida Department of Health. The MMR vaccine is currently free for anyone who wants it.

Lee Health recommends that you contact your doctor or the Department of Health if you suspect measles exposure and exhibit symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash, prior to visiting any healthcare provider. This way, healthcare teams can take precautions and help prevent further spread.

The Florida Department of Health’s most recent data shows 66 measles cases in Collier County and one in Lee County from January through mid-February. Statewide, they had reported 92 cases in that same period. For comparison, Florida saw just seven measles cases in all of 2023.

As of February 10, Ave Maria University reported 49 students infected since the year began. The university hasn’t responded to media requests, even after updating its contact information.

A physician’s assistant at the Mater Dei Clinic in Ave Maria says they have seen new measles cases for two weeks. So far, cases at the university haven’t spread to the wider community. The clinic has no affiliation with the university.

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Measles isn’t just making a comeback, it’s spreading fast. At least 21 states now have confirmed cases, and the numbers keep climbing.

At Ave Maria University, just outside Naples, Florida. Nearly 60 students there have come down with measles. Many students report it begins like a head cold, followed by the distinctive rash, a sore throat and a cough.

The university says its main focus is still the health and safety of the campus community.

Ave Maria University Measles Outbreak

Measles has broken out at Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida, and it’s got a lot of people talking, including Dr. Meghan Martin, better known online as Dr.Beachgem10. She’s a pediatric emergency doctor in St. Petersburg and has a massive following, with over 3.5 million people watching her posts. She recently shared her thoughts on the outbreak and didn’t hold back: as vaccination rates keep dropping, expect more outbreaks like this.

According to Martin, Ave Maria University claims that “the vast majority” of its students are vaccinated. Still, the numbers tell a story. Out of about 1,300 students, there have been 54 measles cases. Five students, as of February 9, were in quarantine with classic measles rashes, while 49 others already recovered and now have natural immunity. By February 11, the university updated its count: seven students still contagious, 50 no longer contagious and now immune.

Martin didn’t mention Ave Maria by name in her post, but she used a screenshot from the university’s campus health update. Ave Maria University sits in eastern Collier County, and so far, the outbreak hasn’t spread beyond campus. The town itself is small, about 7,400 people, and the local mood seems steady.

Martin explained why outbreaks like this happen in places like college campuses. When lots of people live close together, for example dorms, barracks, prisons, nursing homes, diseases like measles spread fast. “Measles is super contagious,” she said. With over 90% of Ave Maria’s students living on campus, an outbreak isn’t all that surprising.

What does measles look like? 

Measles is not a minor illness. Measles hits hard with high fever, a hacking cough, red and watery eyes, a runny nose, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads everywhere. Most people are sick for about a week, if they’re lucky and don’t develop complications.

But complications happen. Measles can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, and even encephalitis, which means swelling in the brain. That can cause lasting brain damage or even death.

Symptoms usually show up 7 to 14 days after exposure. It starts with a high fever (sometimes climbing over 104°F), cough, runny nose, and those telltale red eyes.

Measles can turn serious for anyone, but certain groups face even bigger risks. Children under five, adults over twenty, and pregnant women are especially likely to develop complications. The risks are real, and the stakes are high.

Measles doesn’t need much to move around. According to John’s Hopkins Medicine the virus can hang in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, ready to infect anyone not vaccinated who steps inside. So, unvaccinated children are at risk, but so are adults, especially if their immune systems are weak.

Dr. Martin keeps coming back to one thing: the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine works, and works really well. One dose is 93% effective. Two doses? That jumps to 97%. She praised the university and the state health department for moving quickly: isolating sick students, offering tests and vaccines, even keeping an EMS unit close by.

Ave Maria isn’t alone. At the University of Florida in Gainesville, two classes were exposed to measles, and the school is investigating. The Department of Health has already started tracking down everyone in those classes.

Dr. Martin isn’t the only one urging people to get their shots. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, made an appeal on CNN: “Take the vaccine, please. We have a solution for our problem.” He pointed out that not all illnesses are equally dangerous, but measles is one you don’t want to mess around with.

Here’s where things stand nationally

 The CDC says there have been 733 measles cases so far this year, spread across 20 states. Six cases came from international visitors. For all of 2025, there were 2,267 cases. In Florida, Collier County alone has reported 46 cases out of 68 statewide, according to the state health department. The numbers across the country keep rising. The U.S. now faces the real risk of losing its measles-elimination status, a title it’s held for over twenty years. 

The CDC urges parents to get their kids the MMR shot between 12 and 15 months old. “It’s a good reminder—kids need the measles shot,” says FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. “We put out our list of core essential vaccines—measles is one of them.”

When someone with measles enters a group of unvaccinated people, it’s almost inevitable, nine out of ten unvaccinated folks will get sick. That’s what the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases reports.

Here’s how measles spreads

If one unimmunized child comes close to someone with measles, there’s a 90% chance that child will catch it. The virus doesn’t just disappear when the sick person leaves the room, either. It hangs in the air for up to two hours, ready to infect anyone unvaccinated who walks in next.

People with immune system problems can’t get the vaccine at all. That leaves them especially vulnerable if they’re exposed.

Travelers face risks too. Anyone heading to areas with measles cases can bring the virus back home or pick it up themselves.

For more information collier.floridahealth.gov or nfid.org.

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Measles spread fast. The virus hangs in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, so it doesn’t take much for an outbreak to get out of hand. Instead of confirming cases publicly, the state Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) posted a notice online, promising more resources to monitor suspected measles and stop it from spreading further.

If you check the state’s infectious disease website, you won’t find any mention of the 20 confirmed cases at Ave Maria. The official data only goes up to January 24th, showing zero Collier cases at that point. When the site finally updated on February 5th, it listed just four cases in Collier and one in Lee County. The real numbers? They come from Mater Dei Clinic, a small clinic in Ave Maria, which has been the main testing site since the outbreak began on January 29th. The DOH and the university have been unresponsive despite repeated questions from the press. Lee County’s lone case remains a mystery, with no details available.

Ave Maria is a growing town of about 7,400 people. The university itself has about 1,500 students. After they confirmed the first two cases, Mater Dei Clinic quickly became the go-to place for testing. Since then, the DOH and the university have set up their own testing sites and started contact tracing. 

The campus isn’t sharing any test results. No one outside Ave Maria knows the true scope of the outbreak, including how many students or faculty have tested positive. The official DOH notice says they’re working closely with the university and offering pre- and post-exposure resources. People who think they’ve been exposed or want preventive measures can contact DOH-Collier for help.

So far, there’s no sign measles has spread beyond the university, but it’s early. Symptoms can take a week or more to appear.

Cases Reported Around the State 

Statewide, Florida’s disease tracker lists 15 measles cases in January across nine counties: Collier, Lee, Alachua, Broward, Duval, St. Johns, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade. The DOH’s Collier County website directs people to the statewide database, Florida Charts, for more information. The site is dated and shows a 10-year history with 2024 as the most recent year. It offers only limited recent figures.

Last year, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced his intention to end vaccine requirements for children in public schools, sparking pushback from local officials. Ladapo doesn’t actually have the power to eliminate all vaccine mandates. Repealing requirements for MMR, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus takes legislative action.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet. Unvaccinated children face the highest risk, but anyone without immunity, including those with compromised immune systems, can get sick. The virus can linger long after an infected person leaves a room, putting unimmunized people in danger if they walk in afterward.

So far in 2024, Florida is one of 17 states wrestling with measles outbreaks, all fueled by declining vaccination rates. The numbers may look small, but with a virus this contagious, even a handful of cases can set off alarm bells.

If someone with measles walks into a room full of unvaccinated people, almost everyone will get sick; nine out of ten, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already counted 588 confirmed measles cases in 2026, spreading across 17 states, including Florida. The list stretches from Arizona and California all the way to Wisconsin and Virginia.

Last year, the U.S. saw 2,267 measles cases. Fewer children are getting vaccinated. National immunization rates for school-age children dropped from 95% in 2019 to just 92% in 2023. Harvard Health Publishing notes that this is insufficient for herd immunity.

What’s driving this drop? Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. These two forces have paved the way for more outbreaks, all of them preventable. The virus itself is stubborn. If a child without immunity walks into a room where someone with measles was two hours ago, the virus can still infect them. That’s how easily it spreads.

What does measles feel like? 

It’s no mild illness. Measles can be miserable and, sometimes, deadly. The infection starts with a high fever (sometimes spiking above 104°F), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. After a few days, a rash breaks out on the face and soon covers the body. If complications set in, things get much worse: ear infections, pneumonia, or encephalitis, the brain inflammation that can cause permanent damage or even death. Symptoms usually show up 7 to 14 days after exposure and, without complications, the illness lasts about a week.

Anyone can get seriously ill from measles, but some groups face higher risks. Young children under five, adults over twenty, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, like those with leukemia or HIV, are especially vulnerable to dangerous complications.

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