Six young children at a Texas day care center have tested positive for measles — a dreaded scenario with the potential to accelerate an already out-of-control outbreak.

The measles outbreak in western Texas has hit 481 cases as 59 newly identified infections were confirmed over the last three days, according to new data published Friday.

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,