Canada’s top doctor is urging Canadians who haven’t been vaccinated against measles to get their shots.

The request comes in the wake of an outbreak of the disease in British Columbia along with the ongoing danger of cases being imported into the country by travellers.

Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says measles is a “serious and highly contagious disease” and that getting inoculated is the best way to avoid getting sick.

Infection of the measles virus starts with a high fever, coughing, sneezing and red eyes, followed by the development of a blotchy, painful rash.

Dr. Tam adds that getting two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (known as MMR) is virtually 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease within a given population.