Measles Outbreak Tests Ave Maria University's Vaccination Narrative
A measles outbreak at Ave Maria University in Florida grew from 2 cases in late January to nearly 60 by February 11. In response, the university stopped sharing campus-specific recovery and quarantine data and will rely on the state Department of Health's reporting, which lacks intra-county geographic detail, complicating understanding of whether cases remain on campus or have spread into the broader community. Officials note a high overall vaccination rate (the university claims about 98%), but health experts point to pockets of unvaccinated individuals and a rise in religious or conscience-based exemptions in Florida. Critics link the outbreak to the school’s traditionalist atmosphere, even as the broader Catholic Church maintains support for vaccination.
