With the overall number of measles case continuing to increase, health officials are urging people to learn more about the illness and get vaccinated.

As of March 6, there have been a total of 222 cases of measles. The majority have been in Texas with 198 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Followed by New Mexico with 30 cases, including what officials describe as one measles-related fatality. Officials say a man tested positive for measles after he died. This marks the second measles-related death in the U.S. in a decade.

In the Tri-state area, there have been two cases in New York, three in New Jersey and zero in Connecticut.

Measles is an airborne illness that spreads easily through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, talking or breathing. It can also spread when a person touches someone sick or a surface and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Wearing a mask can help stop the spread.

One of its symptoms is a rash. Doctors say measles is contagious longer than the rash itself. People can be contagious four days before a rash develops and four days after it clears up.

Doctors say while most people recover from the illness at home, for some people measles can enter the lungs and make it hard for them to breathe and cause brain inflammation.

The CDC suggests if a parent or child are unvaccinated and plan to travel internationally or domestically, they should check ahead of time to see if there is an outbreak happening at their destination. They also say it's important children and pregnant people are up to dare on their MMR vaccine.

Vaccinated or not, if people believe they have been exposed to measles, they need to call their health care provider as soon as possible.