Public Health Agency advises Canadians to make sure measles shots are up to date

A sudden outbreak of measles in B.C. has prompted the Public Health Agency of Canada to remind Canadians to check their vaccinations.

The statement comes in response to an outbreak of nine cases of measles in Vancouver that began after an unvaccinated Canadian child contracted the disease on a family trip to Vietnam.

Vaccination is the best protection against the highly contagious disease, says the Public Health Agency.

The agency is urging Canadians to ensure their immunizations are up to date, especially if they are travelling outside the country.

People who cannot be vaccinated, including infants, people with certain underlying health conditions and those undergoing chemotherapy, rely on high levels of immunity within communities to protect them from the disease.