Get your flu shot, officials urge, as local cases spike

Calgary is already seeing a huge spike in flu cases since the season began and health officials expect it to get worse.

There are 70 reported cases of the flu in Calgary, and about 140 in Alberta, according to the first influenza update from Alberta Health Services. Compared to other cities and zones in the province, Calgary has seen the biggest surge in flu cases, compared with 40 in Edmonton and 29 for the remainder of Alberta.

Dr. Jia Hu of AHS said the numbers should serve as a reminder to Calgarians to get immunized.

“Every year thousands of Albertans are hospitalized, definitively, whether it’s a good season or a bad season,” said Hu. “So, it is very important that people get immunized, wash their hands and stay at home if they’re sick if possible, taking those precautions to keep them and their loved ones safe.”

Each year, approximately 3,500 Canadians die from the flu and more than 12,000 are hospitalized.

Twenty-seven Calgarians have been hospitalized so far this season.

“The thing with influenza is it’s unpredictable when the season will really ramp up in any given year, so I anticipate it will get a lot worse sometime in the near future,” said Hu, who added there is no conclusive answer as to why Calgary is seeing more cases than other cities. He said the numbers are likely to even out by March.

Compared with this time last year, the city is actually seeing fewer cases, but Hu said it’s too early in the season to make assumptions about this season’s outlook.

He said 2017 was one of the worst seasons in Alberta’s history, with 3,000 to 4,000 people hospitalized, but it decreased significantly last year with 2,000 hospitalized.

“I think people often don’t realize the flu is quite a serious viral illness,” said Hu. “You say the word ‘flu’ and you think it’s a cold or something or stomach flu, but the flu itself, the influenza virus, can be quite deadly.”

He said people are more at risk if they are very young, elderly or pregnant. Not only does the flu shot protect the recipient, but it also protects people around them, explained Hu, especially those with health concerns.

So far, there have been 293,008 vaccinations administered to Calgarians and 713,202 in Alberta.

Flu vaccinations are free for Albertans six months of age and older.

“If you want to protect your kids, protect your grandparents, a flu shot is the way to go,” said Hu.

“The flu shot is probably the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself against the flu.”

For clinic locations and additional information, visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/influenza