The U.S. eliminated measles in 2000. The dangerous virus can cause a lot of problems, but more Floridians are choosing to skip the vaccine that protects against it.
And with Florida moving to lift vaccine mandates, doctors are concerned that more people will be hesitant to get the shots, including MMR, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children between 1 and 12 years old receive two doses of the vaccine. The vaccinations are 97% effective at preventing the virus.
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Measles can cause high fevers and rashes and can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and, in some cases, death.
University of South Florida infectious disease expert Michael Teng said the measles vaccine has gone through extensive safety testing, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
“We're talking billions of doses of these things, right? And the side effects are super mild compared to the disease itself, and in addition to the more severe consequences of the viral infection,” Teng said.
Confirmed cases
The U.S. has recorded 1,563 confirmed cases for 2025 as of Oct. 7, marking the highest number in three decades. More than half were diagnosed in people under 20.
Florida has had six confirmed cases.
Teng said he's worried because the virus is highly contagious.
“It's more contagious than SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID, so it can transmit in a room, you know, like 30 feet away,” he said. “It's a respiratory virus, so tiny little respiratory droplets, and it's extremely infectious.”
The CDC said the virus is one of the most contagious of all diseases: "If one person has it, up to nine out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected." The Kaiser Family Foundation said herd immunity can be achieved when 95% or more of the population is vaccinated.
The estimated MMR vaccination rate for Florida kindergarteners is nearly 89%, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Teng said if rates drop enough, states have the potential to lose their eradication status.
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This story was produced by WUSF as part of a statewide journalism initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
