Alberta Health Services says they have seen a big jump in the number of flu cases in the province.
23 deaths have been reported in Alberta this flu season, six of them in Calgary. Health officials also say 390 Albertans were hospitalized because of the flu; 106 of those cases were from the Calgary Zone.
Alberta Health Services says of those that have been hospitalized or died from this year’s flu, 61% had received a flu shot.
Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. James Talbot, says while this is considered a normal flu season, we have nearly reached the peak of flu activity in the province and we are expected to peak earlier in the season than normal.
Talbot says the average age of the flu victims in Alberta was 87 years, while the average age of those hospitalized because of the flu was 68.
There have been 51 respiratory outbreaks confirmed in the Calgary Zone this season. 38 of those outbreaks have been confirmed as influenza, 23 of those are currently active.
Alberta Health officials say 31% more Albertans have received a flu shot this year compared to 2013. The vaccine protects against H1N1 and H3N2 but is only a partial match to the H3N2 virus in circulation. Alberta Health has purchased enough to vaccinate 45% of all Albertans.
In 2013, Alberta reported 30 deaths from influenza.
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