Another six Albertans dead from flu

By Gillian Slade on December 23, 2017.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade

Another six flu-related deaths have been reported this week, bringing the total this season to 19, with two in the south zone, according to the latest statistics provided by Alberta Health Services.

The total number of laboratory-confirmed influenza A and influenza B cases increased from 2,478 a week ago to 3,355 this week. That breaks down as follows: 2,638 cases of influenza A for the whole province of which 197 were in the south zone, 717 cases of influenza B for the province with 56 of them in the south zone.

“In keeping with the early influenza activity this season, several indicators of influenza activity are above the expected levels for this time of year,” says the latest FluWatch report issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

There has been a notable increase in the number of outbreaks and hospitalizations, says FluWatch.

The latest numbers from AHS indicate 869 people have been admitted to hospital this flu season with 47 of them being in the south zone. Those numbers are a significant increase compared to data provided a week ago, which said 632 had been admitted to hospital and 13 were in the south zone.

A year ago there had been 259 people hospitalized with laboratory confirmed influenza and 26 of those were in the south zone.

FluWatch also says the numbers in general are closer to levels observed in the 2014/2015 influenza season when influenza A (H3N2) was dominant.

In fact by Jan. 7, 2015 there had been 2,696 cases of influenza reported for the province. At that point there had been 23 deaths in Alberta with three of those being in the south zone. In that same report there had been 390 people hospitalized in the province.

More than 1 million Albertans have taken the precaution of getting the flu vaccine and more than 84,000 of those are in the south zone. 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.

There is one more flu immunization clinic planned for Medicine Hat at Higdon Hall on the Stampede Grounds: Jan. 15, 2-6 p.m.