The provincial government is encouraging anyone planning travel outside the country to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against the measles amid a surge in cases world-wide.

Measles is a highly contagious illness spread through the air and on infected surfaces.

Vaccination rates in Newfoundland and Labrador are high, and travel within Canada is considered to be low-risk, but people who are not vaccinated, or not fully vaccinated against measles, should be cautious while travelling outside the country.

Quebec, a neighbouring province, has the highest number of measles cases in Canada right now with cases reported in only three other provinces.

Infants between six months and one year of age should have one dose of the MMR vaccine prior to travel outside the country, and those between the ages of 12 and 18 months typically receive a second dose to be fully-vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says people born in, or after 1970, should ensure that they have two doses of the MMR vaccine before leaving the country. She says people born between 1970 and 1983 likely would have had at least one dose, while many would have two doses.

People born before 1970 should make sure they received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine prior to travel outside the country.

However, Dr. Fitzgerald says most people in that age group are considered to have already been exposed to measles over the course of their life, and therefore have greater immunity. They are recommending people born before 1970 make sure that they have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

Residents who want a vaccine are asked to contact their public health clinic for further information.