Florida Sees Spike in Measles Cases, Now 3rd Highest in US

State reports 25% jump in measles diagnoses in just one week, raising concerns about outbreak

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Florida has the third-highest number of measles cases in the United States, with the number of diagnoses jumping nearly 25% in just one week, from 92 cases on February 14 to 114 cases on February 21, according to the Florida Department of Health. The state is now only nine cases behind Utah, which has the second-highest number of cases, while South Carolina remains the state with the most confirmed measles cases so far this year.

Why it matters

Measles outbreaks can have serious public health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations like young children and those with compromised immune systems. The rapid rise in Florida's measles cases highlights the need for continued vaccination efforts and disease monitoring to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus.

The details

About three-quarters of Florida's 114 measles cases this year, 82, are in Collier County, where an outbreak was reported at Ave Maria University in late January. Other counties with reported measles cases include Alachua, Broward, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Pinellas and St. Johns. Approximately 81% of the reported cases are among people aged 15 to 24, and 76 out of the 114 cases were acquired within the state.

  • As of February 14, Florida had 92 confirmed measles cases in 2026.
  • As of February 21, Florida had 114 confirmed measles cases in 2026, a 25% increase in one week.

The players

Florida Department of Health

The state agency responsible for monitoring and reporting on communicable disease outbreaks in Florida.

Ave Maria University

A private Catholic university in Collier County, Florida, where a measles outbreak was reported in late January 2026.

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What’s next

The Florida Department of Health is currently on-site at Ave Maria University providing care and guidance to the campus community.

The takeaway

The rapid rise in measles cases in Florida underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates and vigilant disease monitoring to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus, which can have serious public health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations.