Alberta reports six more cases of measles, bringing total to 83

Alberta is reporting six more confirmed cases of measles, bringing the province's total since the beginning of March to 83. The province says four of the new cases are in central Alberta, and the other two are in the province's south. It says the majority of cases involve children between five and 17 years old.

Provincial data shows at least eight people have been hospitalized. Alberta's former chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe, has said most cases are likely past the point of being contagious, but that doesn't necessarily reflect community risk. Health officials say measles can spread when people travel frequently, including spring break. Symptoms include fever, coughing, a runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts.