At least 2 measles cases reported at Ave Maria University in Florida
Updated: 1:47 PM EST Jan 30, 2026
Ave Maria University officials have confirmed that multiple cases of measles have been reported on its campus in Collier County.Officials at the school’s health clinic said there are at least two cases known at this time and added that testing is available on campus.Some symptoms of measles may include fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes and rash, and the disease is highly contagious.If vaccinated, you are considered protected, but if not, officials say you might need to self-isolate.According to the school’s website, “Ave Maria University requires that ALL students provide evidence of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal immunization, or else submit a signed waiver declining receipt of vaccinations, after being made aware of the risks associated with these diseases.”These are the first-known cases on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2026.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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Jan. 29, there were 588 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026. Among those cases, 585 measles cases were reported by 17 states.FloridaArizonaCaliforniaGeorgiaIdahoKentuckyMinnesotaNebraskaNorth CarolinaOhioOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin>> The map below highlights the increase in cases across the United States. The CDC releases data weekly on Wednesdays. The map below is updated accordingly and may not reflect cases since the last update.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DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
AVE MARIA, Fla. —
Ave Maria University officials have confirmed that multiple cases of measles have been reported on its campus in Collier County.
Officials at the school’s health clinic said there are at least two cases known at this time and added that testing is available on campus.
Some symptoms of measles may include fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes and rash, and the disease is highly contagious.
If vaccinated, you are considered protected, but if not, officials say you might need to self-isolate.
According to the school’s website, “Ave Maria University requires that ALL students provide evidence of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal immunization, or else submit a signed waiver declining receipt of vaccinations, after being made aware of the risks associated with these diseases.”
These are the first-known cases on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2026.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Jan. 29, there were 588 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026. Among those cases, 585 measles cases were reported by 17 states.
FloridaArizonaCaliforniaGeorgiaIdahoKentuckyMinnesotaNebraskaNorth CarolinaOhioOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin
>> The map below highlights the increase in cases across the United States. The CDC releases data weekly on Wednesdays. The map below is updated accordingly and may not reflect cases since the last update.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.