A rapidly growing measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, linked to low vaccination rates, has reached 48 cases, prompting urgent health warnings and vaccination efforts.

An outbreak of measles has spread to 48 cases across four counties in the South Plains region of northwestern Texas, doubling in scope from earlier this week, health officials said. Most of the cases are in school-aged children,

While Gaines County, where 42 of the 48 cases were reported, remains the epicenter, DSHS reports that three cases have been reported in Terry County, two in Yoakum County and one in Ly nn County. All four counties are clustered in West Texas close to the New Mexico border.