Measles Outbreak Hits Florida College

More than 40 cases reported at Ave Maria University, raising concerns about growing threat to unvaccinated college students

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A measles outbreak has hit Ave Maria University in southwest Florida, with more than 40 confirmed cases reported. This is the largest measles outbreak on a college campus in recent history, raising concerns among university leaders and public health experts that measles may present a growing threat to college students who aren't vaccinated.

Why it matters

The outbreak at Ave Maria highlights the risks posed by declining childhood vaccination rates and the increasing number of college students claiming personal or religious exemptions from vaccine requirements. Measles outbreaks have already disrupted several other college campuses this year, and experts warn that more may be on the way.

The details

The outbreak at Ave Maria University has already forced the quarantine of multiple students. Most colleges require proof of measles vaccination, but many allow exemptions. There is no national data on vaccination rates among college students, but universities have reported an uptick in personal exemptions in recent years. Even slight drops in immunization rates can make a community vulnerable to a measles outbreak, which spreads easily on college campuses where students live, eat, and socialize together.

  • The outbreak at Ave Maria University was first reported in February 2026.

The players

Ave Maria University

A private Catholic college in southwest Florida where the measles outbreak occurred.

Dr. Sarah Van Orman

Past president of the American College Health Association and chief campus health officer at the University of Southern California, who commented on the growing threat of measles outbreaks on college campuses.

Dr. Michael Osterholm

An infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, who noted that today's young adults were children during the early years of the modern vaccine skepticism movement and are now at risk of measles.

Dr. Jonathan Temte

A former chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee, who said college campuses are an 'ideal' place for viruses like measles to spread.

Lauren Gardner

A public health expert who leads a measles tracking project at Johns Hopkins University, who expects the measles case count in the U.S. to be even higher this year due to declining childhood vaccination rates.

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What they’re saying

“For most of us, it's not if we'll get a case, it's when.”

— Dr. Sarah Van Orman, Chief campus health officer at the University of Southern California

“We are now starting to see a group of individuals in their early 20s who are not protected. They never had measles, they've never been vaccinated, and they're in large enough numbers that we're going to start seeing more outbreaks.”

— Dr. Michael Osterholm, Infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota

What’s next

Colleges across the country are refining their measles response plans and collecting immunization data to identify which students would need to be quarantined in the event of an exposure. Some colleges are even considering stricter vaccine requirements.

The takeaway

The measles outbreak at Ave Maria University highlights the growing threat of measles on college campuses, driven by declining childhood vaccination rates and increasing personal exemptions. This outbreak is part of a broader resurgence of measles in the U.S., underscoring the need for colleges to strengthen their vaccination policies and prepare for potential future outbreaks.