Kansas health officials have confirmed 23 measles cases, marking an outbreak for the state as infections in at least 17 states have led to the most cases in the U.S. in a single year since 2019. The Kansas outbreak is spread across 6 southwest counties,

Measles outbreaks are surging in 5 U.S. states, with over 400 cases in Texas and two deaths. Here’s what to know.

The measles outbreak in southwest Kansas is growing rapidly and moving east. It is now up to 23 cases, and as far east as Kiowa County.

State health officials worry that declining vaccination rates have left many communities vulnerable nationwide.

Kansas has an outbreak of two diseases — measles and tuberculosis — as lawmakers loosen vaccine requirements for children.

Twenty-three measles cases have been reported in Kansas, and the state health department said they could be linked to an ongoing outbreak that has infected at least 379 people across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Ohio Department of Health officials on Wednesday said the outbreak consists of 10 people. None of those infected with the highly contagious disease were vaccinated.

Five of the six Southwest Kansas counties reporting measles cases have seen kindergarten vaccination rates drop, one showing a 24% dip over a four-year period.