The number of confirmed cases of measles in the Bible belt outbreak has reached 466, the public health institute RIVM said on Thursday.

The RIVM said there was no cause for concern and the new cases are all in areas where a large number of children have not been vaccinated. Many orthodox Protestants shun vaccinations on religious grounds.

During the last major measles outbreak between 1999 and 2000, over 3,000 people were infected, 150 children were hospitalised and three died.