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A recent measles outbreak in Arizona has prompted state health officials to up their immunization efforts.

They have created a measles surveillance tool kit for doctors to know the right questions to ask and how to proceed in potentially positive cases. Arizona has reported 276 confirmed measles cases since August of last year, nearly all of which occurred in people who were not vaccinated.

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Liam Hicks, vaccine-preventable disease program manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, said Arizona encourages people to get the measles immunization and cited history as evidence the treatment is effective.

"The number one tool in our tool kit for preventing measles is the vaccine," Hicks stressed. "One dose is 93% effective and two doses is 97% effective. So it's the best way to protect oneself and your community."

Arizona mirrors a growing national anti-vaccination trend. People who do not have their children immunized cited safety concerns.

Hicks noted the measles tool kit is designed as a one-stop shop for healthcare providers and community groups, providing resources on how best to address the outbreak and ways to avoid the spread of the disease.

"Its goal is to outline prevention actions and activities and provide a framework for a measles response," Hicks added.

The measles virus can remain airborne for up to two hours even after the carrier is no longer present. Measles cases have been on the rise in the U.S. and globally. The number of cases has risen in conjunction with anti-vaccination efforts.