Alberta flu cases surge as doctors urge vaccinations ahead of holiday gatherings

Doctors and pharmacists are urging Albertans to get vaccinated as flu cases in the province surge.

Influenza is rising sharply across Alberta, prompting renewed calls from pediatric specialists and pharmacists for families to get vaccinated before holiday travel and gatherings ramp up.

According to provincial data, Alberta’s flu test positivity rate has jumped from 3.4 per cent one month ago to 17.8 per cent as of Nov. 29 — more than a fivefold increase.

At the same time, 2,180 lab-confirmed influenza cases have been recorded so far this season, along with 519 hospitalizations, 31 ICU admissions and 15 deaths.

The Calgary health zone accounts for the bulk of those severe outcomes, with 1,250 cases, 304 hospitalizations, 14 ICU admissions and eight deaths.

Doctors warn the province is entering the thick of its annual viral season and say early indicators point to a challenging winter ahead.

Hospitals see rise in admissions

Pediatricians in Calgary are already seeing mounting pressure on emergency departments as influenza spreads faster and earlier than in recent years.

“We’ve noticed a lot more influenza and we’re already heading into the viral surge,” said Dr. Sam Wong, president of the Alberta Medical Association’s Section of Pediatrics.

Wong noted that RSV cases remain relatively low for now, but influenza is driving significant illness across age groups.

“We’ve had a huge influx of increases in the pediatric population and in the adult population as well,” he said.

“But especially for children, the flu can be dangerous. High fevers, dehydration, severe fatigue and poor appetite often bring families to emergency rooms. Sometimes you can get some bad pneumonia out of influenza as well, and that’s where we get concerned.”

Wong said he and colleagues expect an intense viral surge this winter and potentially a “double surge” if RSV begins to rise alongside influenza.

“This is the worst part of the year for pediatrics,” he said. “We see a huge influx and if RSV comes later after the influenza surge, we can deal with it. Otherwise, our health system will be taxed.”

The trend mirrors concern raised internationally.

Virologists in Japan, the U.K. and elsewhere have reported early, aggressive flu seasons, fuelled in part by a new offshoot of H3N2 that emerged after this year’s vaccines were formulated.

Experts say it’s still too early to know whether Alberta will face a mismatch, but even partial protection “remains the best defence against severe illness,” according to public health officials.

Craig Jenne, an infectious-disease researcher at the University of Calgary, says Alberta is already seeing signs of strain mismatch — particularly with H3N2 — but stresses that the vaccine is still “highly effective” at preventing severe outcomes.

“We are seeing more breakthrough infections,” Jenne said.

“People who are vaccinated can still catch the flu, but the flu shot continues to protect those individuals from severe disease, reducing the risk of needing to see a doctor, go to the hospital or be admitted to the intensive care unit.”

Doctors, pharmacists sound alarm on vaccination rates

Despite the rising threat, Alberta’s influenza immunization rate remains far below what doctors want to see.

So far, the province has administered 818,685 influenza vaccine doses as of Nov. 29, which represents a 16.2 per cent coverage rate.

Calgary Zone’s overall coverage rate is the highest in the province at 17.7 per cent, but Jenne say Alberta’s vaccination curve for influenza is trending “even below last year’s record-low levels,”

“Last year we hit about 20 per cent, the lowest in about 15 years — and we also saw more than 200 influenza deaths in Alberta,” he said.

“We’re already starting down that road again this year.”

Pharmacies, which deliver a large share of Alberta’s flu shots, are also seeing slower uptake.

“We’ve been seeing less uptake in the vaccine this year,” said Randy Howden, a Calgary pharmacist and owner of The Medicine Shoppe in Crowfoot.

“We’re not sure if that’s less uptake overall or if it’s related to the provincially funded vaccine clinics.”

Howden said pharmacies are now well past their October rush and many offer walk-in appointments.

“It’s super easy to get it. For example, we just had a gentleman pop in, ask if he could get his vaccine right now, and we we’re able to accommodate him right away.”

He worries however that some families may be experiencing “vaccine fatigue” or disruptions in routine following the recent teachers’ strike.

“We’ve been seeing less children coming in for immunizations,” he said.

But with influenza A causing more severe disease this season along with more hospitalizations among older adults, Howden urges people not to delay.

“It’s really important that we get the vaccine rates up,” he said.

“Spikes in influenza and COVID tend to happen after the holiday season, after everybody gets together. It might be good to be vaccinated before all of these get-togethers to prevent getting sick.”

Wong also recommends getting the shot “at least a couple of weeks” before travel or family gatherings.

“If you can wait two weeks, get it done two weeks before you get together and that’s probably enough time that it should be effective,” he said.

Hospitals ‘managing well’: province

The province says Alberta’s hospitals are handling the current wave of respiratory illnesses, noting that influenza and RSV levels are rising in line with seasonal patterns.

In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services said “Alberta is seeing a normal seasonal increase in influenza and RSV, and teams at Alberta Children’s Hospital and across the province are managing well using established surge plans.”

The ministry said hospitals have flexibility to respond as demand fluctuates.

“Sites can add temporary beds where staffing allows, adjust spaces as needed, and use virtual care so children who are well enough can safely recover at home.”

While most respiratory illnesses do not require hospital treatment, the ministry echoed calls from physicians for Albertans to take precautions.

“We continue to encourage vaccination, good hygiene, staying home when sick, and masking in crowded indoor spaces during periods of high transmission.”

The province added that it is actively promoting influenza, RSV and COVID-19 vaccination through public health clinics, pharmacies, physician offices and a coordinated campaign led by Primary Care Alberta.

That campaign includes online ads, social media, TV, radio, billboards and ethnic and Indigenous media, and will run from mid-October through February.

The ministry said messaging is aimed at families, seniors and others at higher risk of severe illness.

It also addressed questions about the recent teachers’ strike.

“There is no data to suggest the recent teachers’ strike has affected immunization rates or virus transmission,” the statement said.

The province said COVID-19 admissions so far are also “only a fraction” of what Alberta has seen in previous years.

“ Influenza activity is rising, as it does every winter, and although it began slightly earlier than average, current levels are still lower than the peaks observed in 2022 and 2023.”

“RSV is also increasing in line with seasonal patterns, with admissions currently lower than at this point last year. It remains early in the season, but overall, these trends are within expected ranges.”

Schools feeling impact

Rising respiratory illnesses are also affecting classrooms across Calgary, with both school boards reporting fluctuating levels of student absences heading into December.

The Calgary Catholic School District says eight of its 120 schools currently have absence rates of 10 per cent or higher due to illness, triggering required reporting to Alberta Health Services.

Under provincial guidelines, schools must notify AHS Population Public Health when illness-related absenteeism reaches 10 per cent or when a school sees an unusual number of students with similar symptoms.

In a statement, the district said it continues to prioritize student and staff wellness.

CCSD said it works to maintain “safe, healthy learning and working spaces” and follows provincial public-health guidance, noting that student absences fluctuate daily for many reasons — including illness, medical appointments, bereavement and family travel.

Last week, the district shared an update with parents highlighting steps schools are taking to reduce the spread of infection.

The message, distributed Nov. 28, reminded families about practices that support healthy school environments, including:

• Keeping children home when sick — with parents contacted to pick up students who come to school ill;
• Frequent handwashing;
• Respiratory etiquette; and
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

“Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools healthy, safe and welcoming for all students,” the district wrote.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Board of Education also says its schools are seeing illness-related absences typical for this point in the year, but the division is monitoring patterns closely.

In a statement, the CBE said it is “encouraging families to keep children home when they are sick, reinforcing hand hygiene practices, and continuing enhanced cleaning in schools.”

“We know absences due to illness are happening at many of our 251 schools,” the CBE said.

“Some school communities are being impacted more than others.

“Absence rates due to illness this week have ranged from 5.9 to 6.9 per cent across the system.”

RSV rates climbing in Alberta

RSV is starting to hit the province hard.

The latest numbers from Alberta Health show 296 people have tested positive for the virus; 125 have been hospitalized and of those eight are in ICU, two people have died.

“This is just for RSV; it doesn’t include all the other respiratory viruses,” says Dr. Oscar Larios, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.

“We’ve got to remember this is just a fraction of the people who are actually infected and who were tested. It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.”

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common, contagious respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

It can, however, lead to more serious lung infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in infants, young children, and older adults. The virus spreads through close contact and by touching contaminated surfaces and is most common during the fall and winter months.

“There’s a recent study that’s been done that shows 65 per cent of people have never spoken to their healthcare professional about RSV .” says Larios.

“It can be a very serious illness, there is a vaccine to prevent it so it should be discussed with a healthcare professional.”

Who should be vaccinated

Larios says these are the common recommendations:

• Anyone 50 and over who has any sort of medical condition such as cardiac conditions or respiratory conditions should speak to their family physician or healthcare practitioner about getting vaccinated;
• If you are 75 and over you should be getting a vaccine; and
• If you are 60 and over and living in a continuing care facility, or are Indigenous, you should probably be getting a vaccine as well.

Larios says the best prevention is common sense; stay away from people who are sick, and if you are sick, stay home and to wash your hands after you blow your nose.

A look at the number of respiratory cases in Alberta can be found on Alberta Health’s dashboard here.