Four deaths in Alberta to influenza so far

By Gillian Slade on November 25, 2017.

Medicine Hat News

There have been four deaths linked to flu this season and one of those was in the south zone, according to numbers released by Alberta Health Services.

There have been 694 cases of lab-confirmed influenza A, with 32 of those in the south zone this flu season. A year ago that number stood at 266 and 30 respectively.

There have been 127 lab-confirmed cases of influenza B, and four of those were in the south zone. Last year there were 13 across the province and four in the south zone.

So far this season, 225 Albertans have been admitted to hospital with lab-confirmed influenza. Of those, 12 were in the south zone. By Nov. 24, 2016 there had been 95 across the province and 13 in the south zone.

A total of 901,388 Albertans have received the influenza vaccine and of those, 71,861 were in the south zone, administered by Alberta Health Services public health, non-AHS physicians and non-AHS pharmacists.

All Albertans aged six months and older are eligible to receive influenza immunization free of charge.

Upcoming flu immunization clinics in Medicine Hat at Higdon Hall on the Stampede grounds are as follows: Nov. 28, 2-6 p.m., Dec. 20, 2-6 p.m. and Jan. 15, 2-6 p.m.

Only one type of influenza vaccine is being offered free of charge: Fluzone as an injection. The vaccine contains four strains of influenza virus including influenza A Michigan, influenza A Hong Kong, influenza B Brisbane and influenza B Phuket.

FluMist, the nasal spray previously available for children between the ages of two and 17, is not available this season through AHS.

The influenza vaccine FLUAD, designed to boost the immune response in seniors, will not be available except to seniors living in long-term care or supportive living.

Some pharmacists may choose to offer FluMist and/or FLUAD to Albertans for a fee paid by the patient.