Alberta reports 48 new cases of measles, nears 500-case mark since March

Alberta has confirmed 48 more cases of measles, bringing the province's total case count to 486 since the beginning of March. The province says all but two of the new cases of the highly contagious disease are in southern Alberta, the area that has seen about 70 per cent of all cases.

Government data shows that close to 80 per cent of all cases have been reported in children, including 149 cases in those under the age of five. As of earlier this month, 35 people had been hospitalized.

Measles symptoms include fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.

The province is encouraging Albertans to get vaccinated against measles and has launched a new hotline people can call to learn more about getting immunized.