Measles is rarely seen in the United States, but Americans are growing more concerned about the preventable virus as cases continue to rise in rural West Texas.

A child has died of measles in Texas, officials said — the first death from the highly contagious disease the United States has seen in a decade. The school-age child was not vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

A "highly contagious virus outbreak" is currently affecting 57 countries. The US based "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)" has issued a level one Travel Health Notice (THN) due to a surge in cases globally.