PNG health authorities on alert over Pacific measles outbreaks

People in Papua New Guinea have been urged to get fully vaccinated against measles before travelling overseas.

Health Department official Berry Ropa said PNG was worried about the importation of measles and a possible outbreak, The Post Courier reports.

It was important people were aware of the measles outbreaks occurring in the Pacific and the need to protect themselves from the virus.

The Health Department said a measles vaccine was included in the last round of nationwide polio vaccinations in June, in which more than a million children were immunised.