AHS confirms 5 flu-related deaths in Alberta

EDMONTON – Alberta is opening mass immunization clinics in four communities to deal with a surge of flu cases.

As of Thursday, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says there were 965 lab-confirmed cases of the flu province-wide, 920 of which were the H1N1 form of the virus.

Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health with AHS, confirmed five people have died from the flu in the province- three in Edmonton and two in Calgary.

READ MORE: Health officials issue warning about severity of flu outbreak

“People are being told to go and get these shots, but we’re naive, we don’t think it’s ever going to happen to us,” said Cal Pratt, whose wife, Linda, is currently in intensive care, fighting H1N1.

“She’s not really responsive right now,” Pratt said of his wife of 35 years. “Everybody has been telling me ‘all you can do is go one day at a time.'”

Predy says this H1N1 strain has been around for about five years and hits people in their 30s, 40s and 50s harder than seniors, who usually get sick from other strains.

“If we look at the hospitalized cases in total, the median age is about 45. Between 45 and 48 years of age, so it is a relatively young population that we’re seeing with the more severe forms of illness,” Predy said Thursday afternoon.

If you’ve previously been vaccinated against H1N1, it will not protect you this year; the shot it only effective for one season.

“It’s always good to get a yearly update on the flu shot, just to help reduce the chance of the flu each year,” explained Pharmacist Anil Goorachurn.

Pratt says his wife did not receive a flu shot.

“Unfortunately, I’m seeing it first hand. And it hurts,” he said Thursday evening. “It’s free, doesn’t cost you. All it costs you is a few minutes of your time and you won’t be spending two months going up to a hospital to visit someone that you love.”

If the flu surge continues, more mass immunization clinics could open.

AHS says about 800,000 Albertans have now been vaccinated. Albertans can get a free flu shot at the clinics, pharmacies or at family physician offices.

Children under the age of nine are not able to receive the vaccine at pharmacies.

Edmonton clinic locations are as follows:

Bonnie Doon Health Centre, 8314 88 Avenue N.W.
Fri, January 3, 2014 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Drop In)
Fri, January 10, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Drop In)

Northgate Health Centre, 9499 137 Avenue N.W.
Fri, January 3, 2014 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Drop In)
Tues, January 7, 2014 12:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Drop In)
Fri, January 10, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Drop In)

West Jasper Place Health Centre, 9720 – 182 Street NW, T5T 3T9
Tues, January 7, 2014 12.30 p.m – 8:00 p.m. (Drop In)

Calgary clinic locations are as follows:

Brentwood Village Mall, 3630 Brentwood Road, N.W.
Thu, January 2, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Fri, January 3, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Sat, January 4, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Tue, January 7, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Wed, January 8, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)

South Calgary Health Centre, 31 Sunpark Plaza, S.E.
Thu, January 02, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Fri, January 03, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Sat, January 04, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Tue, January 07, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)
Wed, January 08, 2014 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Drop In)

For a complete list of clinic locations across the province, visit Alberta Health Services’ website.

With files from Global News.