JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses and there is now one reported case in Florida. It’s been confirmed at a high school in Miami–Dade.
The measles outbreak has grown to 159 cases nationwide with one child having died in Texas. In fact, the most cases so far have been reported in West Texas.
Measles have also been reported in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New Mexico.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. Three measles clusters have qualified as outbreaks in 2025 in the United States.
Medical experts say that means it’s time to talk prevention. Jacksonville’s Chief Health Officer Dr. Sunil Joshi joined us on The Morning Show on Friday to share more.
Joshi said before a vaccine was developed in the 1960s, everybody got measles. He emphasized the vaccine has been around for decades.
Joshi says there is significant data to show it is safe. Still, people remain skeptical.
Vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most states are below the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergartners, which is the level needed to protect communities against measles outbreaks.
It’s down to 93%, which means some 250,000 children are not immunized.
Joshi tells News4JAX the MMR vaccine is the best way to stop the spread of measles.