Miami health watch: measles counts rise, HIV drug coverage rule change, firefighter cancer screenings
Miami, FL – February 27, 2026 – Measles case counts rose statewide as Miami-Dade remains listed; new funding and safety updates hit local care.
Miami-area residents are heading into the weekend with a mix of outbreak tracking, health policy changes, and new prevention-focused work from local medical teams.
Measles: Florida counts rise, Miami-Dade remains on the list
CBS Miami reported Feb. 27 that Florida measles diagnoses for 2026 increased from 92 to 114 in the Florida Department of Health Reportable Diseases Frequency Report, a jump of nearly 25 percent over one week. The same report listed Miami-Dade among counties that have reported cases this year, alongside areas including Broward, Hillsborough, and Collier.
Most of the state total has been concentrated in Collier County, where officials have linked a large share of cases to an outbreak associated with Ave Maria University, according to the report. The update also noted that most reported cases were among people ages 15 to 24.
HIV medication access: emergency rule set to narrow eligibility March 1
A separate statewide policy shift may affect patients in Miami as well. The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency rule tightening eligibility for the state AIDS Drug Assistance Program, with the change taking effect March 1. The rule lowers the income threshold the program uses to determine who qualifies for help paying for HIV medications, and advocates have warned it could push some people off coverage.
The report described legal challenges seeking to block the change, framing the dispute as a high-stakes access-to-care fight for Floridians who rely on the program to afford treatment.
Cancer prevention for first responders: Sylvesters initiative expands screening access
In a Feb. 21 story, CBS Miami highlighted the Firefighter Cancer Initiative at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has spent more than a decade studying cancer risks in firefighters and working with departments across South Florida. The program pairs research with outreach intended to translate findings into practical safety steps and earlier detection.
As part of that effort, the initiative uses mobile units to bring primary care and cancer screening services to fire stations, aiming to reduce time and access barriers that can keep workers from recommended screenings.
Fire-weather warning: Miami-Dade under red flag conditions earlier this week
CBS Miami also reported that a red flag warning was issued Feb. 23 for Miami-Dade and Broward as dry air, low humidity, and strong winds increased wildfire danger. While the alert focused on fire behavior, the same conditions can also amplify smoke and fine-particle exposure if fires start, a concern for public health and emergency preparedness.
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-measles-cases-jump-third-most-in-country/
- https://www.them.us/story/florida-hiv-aids-funding-medication-access-emergency-rule
- https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/sylvester-firefighter-cancer-initiative-research-screenings-south-florida-firefighters/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/south-florida-fire-weather-red-flag-warning-miami-dade-broward-february-23-2026/
