HOUSTON, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As many as 561 measles cases have been confirmed in the second largest U.S. state of Texas, as the outbreak continues to grow nationwide, according to figures issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Tuesday.

Twenty new cases were reported over the last five days, and at least 58 patients associated with measles have been hospitalized so far, said the DSHS.

"Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities," the DSHS said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday confirmed 712 measles cases this year in at least 24 states, about 97 percent of them are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Texas public health officials warned last month that the outbreak could last months and even the whole year, noting that those communities with below-average immunization levels suffer most from the outbreak.

If the outbreak continues, the United States may lose its "measles elimination" status declared in 2000, experts have warned. Enditem

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