(Reuters) -The Texas health department reported 481 cases of measles in the state on Friday, an increase from 422 on April 1, as the United States battles one of the largest outbreaks of the disease in the past decade.

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.

ToplineMore than 420 measles cases have been confirmed across Texas as of Tuesday, according to state health officials, as an outbreak of the highly contagious illness continues spreading in several states,