Sick over the holidays? You weren't alone: Alberta sees spike in respiratory infections

It has been a sick start to the new year for many Albertans, with a significant increase in the number of respiratory infections over the holidays.

"Everyone has runny noses, coughs. The kids have little fevers," said Jennifer Steward, whose family of five in Calgary started feeling sick on New Year’s Day.

"It's awful. Sleep is awful. Stuck in the house and combined with the cold snap, we can’t go anywhere."

According to the most recent public data from the province's respiratory virus dashboard, the number of Albertans in hospital with influenza and RSV more than doubled over a two-week period, from Dec. 8 to 14 and Dec. 22 to 28.

As of Dec. 28, 214 people were in hospital with RSV and 12 more people died from the virus, for a total of 13 deaths this season.

The number of people hospitalized with the flu more than doubled to 197, with nine more deaths compared to the two weeks prior.

COVID-19 cases are also contributing to the sickness season, with 224 people in hospital and 278 deaths so far this season.

Dr. Daniel Gregson, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Calgary, said it's still too early to determine if respiratory virus cases have peaked.

"This year, it looks like our influenza-a viruses are peaking at the same time from the look of the data I've seen. There are equivalent numbers for a and b and (they're) rising still and exactly how high they will go is hard to predict," he said.

"RSV and Influenza will by the end of the winter disappear, but we see COVID persists at various levels over the year."

Heathers Pharmacy in Kensington was kept busy leading up to and during the holidays, with many people coming in feeling under the weather.

"Definitely experienced an increase in patients looking for cold and flu medications. The other remark I noticed in my practice the last week is more strep throats than we would have experienced in the past couple of weeks or months, which makes sense. The temperature dropped and more people are gathering. ... So, lots of strep throat positives and antibiotic prescriptions,” said pharmacist Heba Elbayoumi.

Elbayoumi encourages those at most risk of severe outcomes from respiratory or bacterial infections to take extra precautions like masking, staying up to date on available vaccinations and staying home while sick.

If you're unsure what you've contracted, you can consult with a doctor or call 811, but many pharmacies, including Heathers Pharmacy, offer rapid antigen tests for COVID, RSV and can also swab for Strep.

It comes at a cost of around $20 but results are available on site within minutes.