CALGARY- A flu outbreak has been declared at the Rocky Ridge Retirement Community, Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirmed on Friday. AHS officials say it’s just one of 15 active outbreaks within Calgary.
“This is not at all unusual,” said Dr. Judy MacDonald, AHS medical officer of health for the Calgary zone. “We never know from one year to the next what level of activity we’ll see before Christmas. It appears that flu activity has increased a little bit earlier than usual this year.”
To date, AHS has declared 19 flu outbreaks in residential or care facilities. An outbreak is declared when two cases of flu-like illness are reported within a seven day period, including at least one lab-confirmed case of influenza.
The most common strain circulating in Alberta right now is H3N2. This flue season, there have been 924 lab confirmed cases of the flu in Alberta and 213 of those were in Calgary. Nine people have died as a result of the outbreak and 196 people have required hospitalization.
A recent Centre for Disease Control report has found this year’s flu shot may not be very effective against the most common strain of influenza in circulation this year.
The report found this year’s vaccine is only able to provide protection against H3N2 about 50% of the time. Still, health officials continue to recommend all Albertans get a flu shot. So far this season over 1.1 million Albertans have received the vaccine. AHS flu clinics will remain open throughout the holidays but clinic hours will be modified.
AHS Flu Clinic Holiday Schedule
Brentwood Village Mall
Richmond Road Diagnostic & Treatment Centre
South Calgary Health Centre (Urgent Care)
Northgate Centre
All 4 drop-in clinics will be open
Dec.16 -19:
11 a.m. – 6:45 p.m
Dec. 20:
9:30 a.m.- 5:15 p.m.
After the December 20, only two drop-in influenza clinics, Brentwood Village Mall and South Calgary Health Centre will be open as follows:
Dec. 23:
11 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 27:
9:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Dec. 30:
11 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Comments