Another five Albertans die from influenza

By Gillian Slade on December 16, 2017.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

Five more flu-related deaths have been reported this week, and one of those was in the south zone.

There were eight deaths on record for this flu season a week ago and that jumped to 13, according to the latest statistics provided by Alberta Health Services.

The total number of laboratory-confirmed influenza A and influenza B cases increased from 1,872 a week ago to 2,478 this week. That breaks down as follows: 1,984 cases of influenza A for the whole province of which 138 were in the south zone, 494 cases of influenza B for the province with 37 of them in the south zone.

“The majority of the influenza detections continue to be A (H3N2), although a substantially greater number of influenza B detections has also been reported compared to previous seasons,” says the latest FluWatch report issued by Public Health Agency of Canada.

FluWatch says influenza activity is above expected levels for this time of year and is closer to levels observed in the 2014/2015 influenza season when influenza A (H3N2) was dominant.

In fact, on Dec. 18, 2014 there were 1,471 cases of influenza reported for the province. At that point there had been 10 deaths in Alberta with one of those being in the south zone. In that same report there had been 260 people hospitalized in the province.

The latest numbers from AHS indicate 632 people have been admitted to hospital this flu season with 13 of them being in the south zone. Those numbers are a significant increase compared to data provided a week ago, which said 459 had been admitted o hospital and 22 were in the south zone.

More than 1 million Albertans have taken the precaution of getting the flu vaccine. The vaccine contains four strains of influenza virus including influenza A Michigan, influenza A Hong Kong, influenza B Brisbane and influenza B Phuket.

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: Dec. 20, 2-6 p.m. and Jan. 15, 2-6 p.m. Pharmacists also provide vaccinations.

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