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The measles outbreak in Arizona, hurting the health officials as the number of positive cases are escalating.

Arizona health officials are monitoring 1,000 people, including 200 children, who could have been exposed to measles at a Phoenix-area medical center.

The outbreak originated in California's Disney parks, which has now spread to the state also. Those who have been exposed to the disease and who have not been vaccinated are being asked to stay at homes for 21 days or asked to wear masks if they have to go out in public.

"To stay in your house for 21 days is hard," State Health Services director Will Humble said. "But we need people to follow those recommendations, because all it takes is a quick trip to the Costco before you're ill and, 'bam,' you've just exposed a few hundred people. We're at a real critical juncture with the outbreak."

Arizona is second in the number of cases traced to Disney parks last month, next to California. The initial spreading might have taken place at Disneyland or California Adventure in Anaheim before Christmas. The outbreak has also been spread to Washington, Utah, Colorado, Oregon and Arizona.

Officials and volunteers are distributing masks everywhere to curtail the spreading of highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory system, immune system, and skin caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus.

-Kannamsai