More than 50 nursing students at a Florida university are battling measles, state health officials announced this week, as the virus'outbreak continues to grownationwide.
As of Feb. 13, seven students at Ave Maria University had contracted the highly-contagious virus, the state Department of Health reported, bringing the school's total number of cases to 57.
The school is in Collier County, about a 35-minute drive northeast from Naples.
The viruscauses a redish blotchy, rashthat usually appears on the body three to five days after initial symptoms, according to theCenters for Disease Control. An infected person can spread the virus four days before a rash appears through four days after it appears.
"All nurse-assessed students on campus within the four-day contagious period following the onset of a rash are in quarantine," the universityreleased in a statementon its website.
In response to the outbreak, the statement continues, the school will continue to provide support through ongoing monitoring and quarantine protocols, free vaccinations, and "transparent communication."
State officials are urging people to check their vaccination status asmeaslescases rise across the nation with outbreaks reported in states includingCaliforniaandSouth Carolina.
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What is measles and how do you get it?
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that primarily, and most severely, affects children. According to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), it infects the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body.
According to CDC data,one in five unvaccinated peoplewho contract the virus end up hospitalized.
Measles is spread through contact with infected nasal or throat secretion.
Outbreak comes amid government's scrutiny of vaccines
The outbreak at the university comes just over a month after federal regulators overhauled their long-timeguidance on childhood immunizationand reverted recommendations for routine vaccination against six infectious diseases, including the flu.
In August 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it wouldwind down mRNA vaccine development activitiesunder its biomedical research unit, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The unit helped companies develop medical suppliesto address public health threatsand had provided billions of dollars to develop vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major medical organizations and health experts have criticized guidelines of Health SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic who has been making sweeping changes to not only vaccines but food and medicine policies.
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Can you get measles if you have been vaccinated?
Yes, you can contract the virus if you have been vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) according to the CDC, but it is rare.
About three in 100 people who have gotten the two-dose vaccination may contract the virus when exposed,the CDC says. Their symptoms are milder than those who contract it without being vaccinated – and they are less likely to spread measles.
Per CDC data, one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.
Contributing:Mary Walrath-HoldridgeandThao Nguyen
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Florida university measles outbreak: Over 50 nursing students infected
