The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) is reporting one case of measles in Hillsborough County and one case in Manatee County.
A third case had been reported in St. Johns County.
The data was last updated on Jan. 17.
WATCH: 1 case of measles in Hillsborough County, 1 in Manatee County: FDOH
The Florida Department of Health cannot comment on ongoing epidemiological investigations or on details about specific cases, and individual information is confidential.
Both reported patients were between 20 and 24 years old, according to the FDOH reportable disease database.
FDOH said the Hillsborough County patient contracted the disease in Florida, and the Manatee County patient contracted it outside of the United States.
The individuals contracted the virus in January of 2026, according to FDOH.
Dr. Laura Hummel with AdventHealth Wesley Chapel said the virus is highly contagious.
"Measles is very infectious. It is airborne so if you are in a crowd and someone in that crowd has measles, you could definitely get infected. There’s about a 90% transmission rate of measles being transmitted to other people in the same room," said Dr. Hummel.
"Classic measles starts with a flu-like symptoms so fever, runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough and then after about 2 to 3 days, you can develop a rash and the rash typically starts on the face and then it moves down the body."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health says if an individual is experiencing symptoms of measles, they should contact their health care provider or local county health department to receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention.
Share Your Story with Julie
From the courtroom to your commute, Julie Salomone works to share the issues that matter to you. She also focuses on the day-to-day issues in Sarasota County, so be sure to reach out to Julie to start a conversation.
.
5 dead in Sarasota shooting ID'd, linked to Ft. Lauderdale double homicide
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said five people are dead after a shooting in a Sarasota neighborhood, including a suspect authorities say may be connected to a double homicide in Fort Lauderdale.
