The number of Albertans sick with influenza is up already, indicating an earlier climb ahead of the official start of the season. During the most recent week of reporting, which ended Oct. 11, Alberta reported 366 lab-confirmed flu cases. By the same time last year, there were only 42. Hospitalizations from influenza are also up, the data indicates. Since August, nearly 300 Albertans are being treated in hospital. Twenty-six of those patients, including two toddlers, are in intensive care. So far, five Albertans have died, with four of those being from the Calgary Zone. Meanwhile, immunizations have only been available to the public since Oct. 19, although vulnerable Albertans have been able to get their shots earlier than that. Approximately 78,000 Albertas have been vaccinated so far, about 50,000 shots behind last year’s pace. Other respiratory illnesses like RSV and COVID aren’t increasing at the same rate, but both are contributing to hospital stays for Albertans. So far, eight Albertans are being treated for RSV and more than 100 have needed to go to hospital for complications from COVID. Four people have died after contracting the illness since August. The trend in flu cases is also rising nationwide, and Health Canada could declare the start of the season by the end of the week. With files from Adam Brilz
