Two UF classes have been exposed to measles, the university announced last week. The university is investigating potential exposures, and the Department of Health has begun reaching out to the individuals in the exposed classes, according to the emailed announcement.
In a statement, UF officials said most students and faculty are immune to measles due to vaccination or prior infection before the vaccine became widely available.
“If you are not contacted, there is no reason to believe you were exposed,” the statement said.
The announcement came amid a nationwide surge in measles cases. Just five weeks into the year, 866 cases have been reported nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. By comparison, there were 71 cases reported during the first five weeks of last year.
The spike has ignited discourse around vaccination rates and effectiveness. Before enrolling at UF, students must submit immunization records, including documentation of measles vaccination, or qualify for an exemption under state law.
According to Greg Harrison, UF Health assistant vice president of external communications, fewer than 0.5% of students request exemptions, which are permitted only for medical or religious reasons.
“UF has established infectious disease response protocols and works closely with public health partners,” Harrison wrote in an email to The Alligator. “The university is prepared to communicate promptly and clearly with the campus community; support public health guidance; and help connect individuals to vaccination and medical resources.”
Measles spreads easily because it can remain airborne for up to two hours and is transmitted through respiratory droplets, according to the CDC.
Tristan Binns, an 18-year-old UF biotechnology freshman, said he felt concerned when seeing the alert email.
Binns, a pre-medical student, said he is vaccinated and believes most people around him are as well. However, he said the presence of reported cases suggests some members of the community may be unvaccinated, which he described as concerning.
Despite his concerns, Binns said he has not changed his daily routines on campus.
“There are only two reported cases,” he said, “However, if the cases start to increase, I will start avoiding densely populated areas.”
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% effective after two doses and 93% effective after one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first dose is typically given between 12 to 15 months of age, followed by a second dose between 4-6 years old.
The CDC also states herd immunity generally protects communities when more than 95% of the population is vaccinated.
In recent years, childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide. A CDC study found kindergarten vaccination coverage fell from nearly 95% during the 2019–2020 school year to below 93% in subsequent years.
The study noted the rate has remained below the Healthy People 2030 target of 95% for four consecutive years and estimated about 280,000 kindergarteners lacked documentation of MMR vaccination and were at risk for measles.
In Alachua County, the percentage of 2-year-olds receiving the full basic vaccination schedule, including the measles vaccine, has steadily declined alongside the state rate over the past several years. After peaking at 92.3% vaccination in 2018, the rate dipped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and hovered at about 76% last year.
In 2025, there were 2,276 confirmed cases in 45 states — the highest total since 2000 when the disease was declared eliminated throughout the U.S.
UF is not the only Florida university to report measles cases this year. Ave Maria University in southwest Florida has reported 53 cases since the semester began. It only takes three cases for an outbreak to be declared.
Robert Cook, UF professor of epidemiology and medicine, said documented measles cases in Alachua County have been extremely rare over the past two to three decades.
“I don’t think there is a major risk to students right now, but if the cases continue to grow locally, persons who are unvaccinated or at increased risk of complications may need to be more cautious,” he wrote in an email to The Alligator.
Common measles symptoms include high fever, rash, cough, runny nose, or red watery eyes, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Students experiencing symptoms are advised to call the Student Health Care Center, their personal healthcare provider or the Florida Department of Health before seeking any in-person care.
Swasthi is the Fall 2025 university administration reporter. She's previously worked as general assignment reporter with The Alligator, and you can also find her work in Rowdy Magazine or The Florida Finibus. When she's not staring at her laptop screen or a textbook, she's probably taking a long walk or at a yoga class.
Alexa is a second-year journalism and international studies student and The Alligator's Spring 2026 Enterprise Politics Reporter. She previously served as the Fall 2025 Criminal Justice Reporter. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling and going on random side quests.
