The Texas health department on Friday reported 59 new measles cases in three days, bringing the total to 481 in the state, while New Mexico added six more infections, as the disease spreads across the United States.

Cases in Gaines County, the center of the outbreak that started in late-January, rose to 315 from 280 on April 1, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. Hospitalizations rose to 56 from 42.

The U.S. is grappling with one of the largest outbreaks of the disease in the past decade, with experts warning that it can spread further. Measles spreads through air by respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are 607 cases of measles nationwide as of Thursday, a jump of 124 cases from its update last week. In 2024, the nationwide count was 285.

The New Mexico Department of Health also said on Friday the state reported six additional measles cases from three days ago, taking the total to 54.

Most of New Mexico’s cases were reported in Lea County, which is adjacent to Gaines County in Texas.

In New Mexico, 36 cases were in people who were not vaccinated, while 471 of the infected in Texas were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.

Infectious disease experts had warned last week that low vaccination rates can make the population vulnerable to highly contagious measles.

The CDC said six outbreaks — defined as three or more related cases — have been reported in 2025 so far, compared to five in its last update.

According to the agency, measles cases have been reported in two new U.S. jurisdictions — Oklahoma and Colorado — since its previous report. That takes the total number of jurisdictions reporting measles cases to 22 so far this year.

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