Data shows earlier-than-expected decline in influenza cases

By Medicine Hat News on January 19, 2023.

National and provincial data shows an earlier-than-expected decline in influenza cases, with the number of cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths now falling within annual expected levels.

Alberta’s most recent influenza report shows a seasonal total of 8,495 lab-confirmed influenza cases as of Jan. 7, with a rate of growth approximately 2 per cent from the previous Dec. 31, 2022 report of 8,335 cases.

Influenza A continues to comprise the majority of cases with Influenza B comprising the remaining cases.

The rate of growth of hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths also continues to decline, with a total of 1,918 hospitalizations reported Jan. 7 (compared to 1,812 reported Dec. 31), 196 ICU admissions (compared to 188) and 90 deaths (compared to 77).

A seasonal total of 652 lab-confirmed cases was reported in the province’s South health zone as of Jan. 7, with a rate of growth approximately 5 per cent – slightly higher than the provincial average – from the previous Dec. 31 report of 617 cases.

Rate of growth for South zone hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths are also declining in-line with provincial data, with a total of 194 hospitalizations reported Jan. 7 (compared to 174 reported Dec. 31), 19 ICU admissions (compared to 19) and 15 deaths (remains the same).

While the total of number influenza immunizations administered this season continues to rise, albeit at a slower rate, population growth has actually decreased the overall per cent of Albertans immunized. From Dec. 31 to Jan. 7, the number of immunizations administered jumped from 1,199,430 to 1,216,051, while percentage of Albertans immunized dropped from 26.9 per cent to 26.6 per cent.

Similarly, in the South zone, immunization administration increased slightly from 77,915 on Dec. 31 to 78,978 on Jan. 7, but population growth caused no change in percentage of zone residents immunized, which remains at 24.9 per cent.

9
-8