CALGARY – After several weeks of frenzied activity, Alberta’s late flu season appears to finally be winding down.
“In terms of lab confirmed cases, we’ve gone down each of the last three weeks,” said Dr. Richard Musto, Alberta Health Services, Medical Officer of Health for the Calgary zone.
“We’re certainly down from our peak which was in early to mid February.”
Since last week, Alberta Health Services has posted 244 new lab confirmed cases of the flu across the province. There have also been another 68 people hospitalized and three new flu related deaths, bringing the total number of fatal flu cases this season to 50.
(Graphic Credit: Tonia Huynh)
Of the three most recent flu-related fatalities, two were patients from Calgary between the age of 18 and 64 who had not been immunized. The third case involved a patient, also unimmunized, over the age of 65 from the northern part of the province.
Get weekly health news
Dr. Musto says the decreased flu activity is beginning to ease pressure on the health care system.
“We’re certainly trending down in terms of the percentage of people turning up to urgent care clinics and emergency rooms with flu-like illness.”
At the height of this year’s flu season, Musto says 14 per cent of all patients visiting emergency departments had flu-like illness. In the last week, that number has fallen to seven and a half per cent.
AHS flu clinics are now closed.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.