The flu bug has announced its presence across Canada but this year’s influenza strain is taking a considerable toll on Albertans and Calgarians in particular.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there were four confirmed outbreaks of influenza in southern Alberta, including three in Calgary, in the week of November 19 -25 bringing the number of confirmed cases of influenza during the 2017/2018 season in Alberta to 1,147 (948 cases of influenza A and 199 cases of influenza B). Of the confirmed cases, 320 influenza patients required hospitalization including 18 people admitted to intensive care units. Five people have died in Alberta this flu season as a result of influenza.
Alberta Health Services predicts the number of cases of influenza will increase considerably in the coming weeks.
Agusha McGrath, a pharmacist with London Drugs, says demand for the influenza vaccine has slowed following an initial surge.
“The best tool that we have to protect ourselves against influenza is to have the flu vaccine,” said McGrath. “In my pharmacy, over the first two weeks when the flu season started, there was a high level of interest. We had numerous patients coming in and then slowly, as time has progressed, the interest levels have decreased slightly.”
McGrath says flu season lasts from November through March and it’s not too late to be vaccinated.
“It does take about two weeks to develop that immunity so ideally you want to do that at the beginning of the season but, even if you haven’t, you’d want to come in now and get that protection.”
In addition to pharmacies, Alberta Health Services offers vaccinations at its influenza clinics. For a list of locations and hours visit Immunization Clinic Schedules.
With files from CTV's Alesia Fieldberg
