A deadly and fast-spreading measles outbreak that started in western Texas in January has grown to 400 cases in the state this week.
The latest data, reported Friday by the Texas Department of State Health Services, represents an increase of 70 new cases in less than a week.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be spread through breathing, sneezing or coughing. The virus is easily preventable through vaccines. Public health data shows that of the 400 cases in Texas, 398 cases involved people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
The majority of infections have been in children, and an unvaccinated 6-year-old died last month in Texas from the outbreak. Forty-one other people who had measles have been hospitalized in Texas.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spread misleading claims about vaccinations, and initially downplayed the current spread of measles.
“It’s not unusual,” he said in February when asked about the death of the Texas child. “We have measles outbreaks every year.”
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Overall, there are now 523 cases across the U.S. since the spread started in January. While Texas has the highest number of cases, the outbreak has spread to other states, including Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,” the Texas Department of State Health Services warned in its latest update.