A measles outbreak in Florida is simmering, but we know almost nothing about it. We went to investigate

Key Points:

• Ave Maria, Florida, is experiencing one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in decades, with over 100 cases reported in Collier County since January, including a recent spread from Ave Maria University to the broader community.
• Despite the outbreak, local and state health authorities have provided limited public communication, hindering effective public health response and leaving unofficial community leaders, such as former HHS assistant secretary Michael Caputo, to fill information gaps.
• The outbreak initially concentrated among college-aged individuals is now affecting younger children and teens, leading to school quarantines and growing concern among residents, especially those with vulnerable family members.
• Experts emphasize the importance of transparent, timely communication from health departments to manage outbreaks effectively, but Florida’s health department has been largely unresponsive to media inquiries and hesitant to promote vaccination amid local political resistance.
• Community members express mixed feelings of fear and premature reassurance, with some families taking extra precautions, while local healthcare providers and officials remain uncertain about the outbreak’s trajectory and the full scope of public health measures underway.