Cases in the ongoing measles outbreak have risen to 258 across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and state health departments are urging more people to get the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

By Chad Terhune (Reuters) -As a measles outbreak spreads across West Texas, Dr. Ana Montanez is fighting an uphill battle to convince some parents that vitamin A - touted by vaccine critics as effective against the highly contagious virus - will not protect their children.

As the outbreak rages, unproven remedies like cod liver oil are being distributed free by some doctors. Families are lining up for them.

In the first test of the Trump administration’s outbreak response, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been sending mixed messages about a rapidly spreading measles outbreak in Texas.

In Texas specifically, a total of 223 people have contracted measles since the outbreak began in January, with at least 29 people, mostly children, requiring hospitalization. One child, who was unvaccinated, has died from measles, while a second unvaccinated person’s death is currently being investigated by health officials.

Measles cases have surpassed last year’s total less than three months into the year, as the outbreak in West Texas continues to spread.

The number of measles cases associated with an outbreak in western Texas has grown to 259, according to new data released Friday.