MIAMI — Florida has reported the state’s first measles case this year as other parts of the country try to control a growing outbreak.

The U.S. has recorded more than 100 cases of the disease in 2025, with ground zero Texas reporting the country’s first measles-related death in nearly a decade.

Now, a Miami-Dade County teen is sick with measles.

The Palmetto Senior High student is Florida’s first confirmed case of the disease this year, according to preliminary data from Florida’s reportable disease surveillance system. In 2024, the state had at least a dozen cases of the rash-causing disease, some of which were linked to an outbreak at a Broward elementary school.

The school says the risk is low for students who are vaccinated and that it’s working with local health officials to take preventive measures. In general, the risk of a measles outbreak at Palmetto will largely depend on what percent of the students, faculty and staff are vaccinated and whether the student was in contact with others who are not vaccinated. Public health measures including sanitation, vaccination and isolating people considered to be at risk will also be key in reducing the risk of spread.

The highly contagious disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 following an effective and strong vaccination program. The vaccine is required to attend K-12 school in the U.S. though some students may have a religious or medical exemption. And while the measles isn’t common, outbreaks can still happen, usually when an unvaccinated traveler falls ill in another country and comes into the U.S., spreading the virus to other unvaccinated people.

“The reason that we don’t get hundreds of cases like we did way in the past, before vaccination, is because of vaccination,” said Mary Jo Trepka, professor and chair of the epidemiology department at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at Florida International University.

One person with measles can infect 9 out of 10 people they come in contact with who are not protected, either from vaccination or by a previous infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, which is required to attend K-12 school in the U.S., is highly effective in preventing infection, Trepka said.

How does measles spread?

Measles can spread through coughing, sneezing and by touching infected surfaces. For those who are vaccinated, infection is rare. For those who previously had measles, you can’t get the infection again.

While most people can recover at home, measles can be dangerous and lead to severe complications in certain at-risk groups who don’t have immunity, including children younger then 5, adults older then 20, people who are pregnant or who are immunocompromised, according to the CDC. Complications can include pneumonia, brain swelling and premature birth. Some people might get seriously ill and die.

What are the symptoms?

Measles can be transmitted four days before the start of symptoms, according to the Florida health department. Symptoms can appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and are at first similar to a normal cold and can include cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a high fever up to 105 degrees.

Then come the red spots and bumps on the face, spreading downward to the neck, chest, legs, arm and feet. The rash typically appears three five days after the first symptoms.

To confirm measles, a doctor will usually order a blood test, swab your nose or throat or have you pee in a cup for a urine test.

It can take 10 to 14 days to recover from the measles if you don’t have complications, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Is the measles vaccine effective?

▪ The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is mandatory to attend all public and private childcare and K-12 schools in Florida, although some students may be eligible for medical or religious exemptions.

▪ One dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is about 93% effective, with two doses about 97% effective, according to the CDC. Once you get the two-dose vaccination, you’re protected for life, experts say.

▪ Kids should get the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. About 3 of 100 people vaccinated with two doses will fall ill if exposed to the virus, the CDC says.

Is there a risk of a measles outbreak?

The risk of a measles outbreak in Miami-Dade County or at Palmetto Senior High, similar to what was seen last year at Manatee Bay elementary in Weston, will depend on vaccination rates. The more people in a school or community who are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, the less risk there is for a measles outbreak, according to Trepka, the FIU expert.

“Because measles is a disease that is so contagious, we have to have extremely high rates of vaccination or we will end up seeing outbreaks,” Trepka said. “There is almost no wiggle room when it comes to measles in terms of vaccination.”

It’s recommended that at least 95% of the population be vaccinated to help reduce the risk of measles spreading, according to Trepka. She said this is not just to protect yourself against the disease, but to protect those who have not been vaccinated or are unable to get vaccinated. Some people, including those who may have a weakened immune system, may not be able to get the vaccine. And remember, students don’t just go to school — they also go to grocery stores, movie theaters and other areas of the community.

The Miami Herald has contacted Miami-Dade County Public Schools to inquire about the vaccination rate at Palmetto Senior High and the infected student’s vaccination status.

Based on the most recently available state, nearly 93% of seventh-graders and nearly 91% of kindergartners enrolled in public and private schools in Miami-Dade County in 2023 had received their school-required immunizations, not just the MMR vaccine. It is not clear if this data reflects completed or partially-completed immunizations.

What is the measles situation in Florida and the rest of the U.S.?

As of Feb. 27, the country has reported 164 measles cases across Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island and Texas, according to the CDC. Of these, nearly all cases were outbreak-associated and involved people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

CDC officials have recently arrived to Texas, which is ground zero of the country’s current measles outbreak, to help try and control the spread of the disease. Many of the cases are occurring in a county that is home to a large unvaccinated Mennonite population. The state recently confirmed that an unvaccinated child with no underlying health conditions had died from the disease, marking the country’s first measles death since 2015 and the first measles death in a child in the U.S. since 2003, CNN reports.

As of Wednesday morning, the only measles case reported in Florida involved a Miami-Dade teen between the ages of 15 and 19, state data shows. State health officials don’t know yet if the teen was infected in Florida or elsewhere. The student attends Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest. The school said it’s working to notify parents of students who had close contact with the infected student.

What to do if exposed or diagnosed

▪ If you’re vaccinated for measles, it’s rare that you’ll fall ill but you should still notify your doctor and monitor for symptoms. However, if you’re not vaccinated or have never previously had measles, speak with your doctor about getting the MMR vaccine.

▪ Trepka says children and adults who were exposed to someone with measles are not vaccinated should get the MMR vaccine immediately to reduce the risk of infection. If you get the vaccine within 72 hours after initial exposure, it could provide some protection against the disease or help you have a milder illness, the CDC says. Your doctor might also opt to give you a medicine called immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to reduce your risk of severe illness.

▪ Health experts recommend people contact their doctor for guidance if they were exposed to measles. Don’t show up to the doctor without notifying the office beforehand to reduce the risk of exposing others. Telehealth appointments are another option. South Florida doctors the Miami Herald spoke with last year also recommended people avoid visiting the ER for a diagnosis unless they have another medical emergency to reduce the risk of spreading the disease to other high-risk people.

▪ If you have measles, the CDC recommends staying home for four days after developing the rash to reduce your risk of spreading the virus to others. And follow the COVID protocols: Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, don’t share drinks or eating utensils and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

▪ Because measles is a virus, the body needs to fight it off. Dr. Ronald Ford, chief medical officer at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, told the Herald during last year’s measles scare. Those those sick with measles need to stay hydrated, wash their hands frequently and and take fever reducer medication as needed to help feel better.

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