Number of influenza cases in Alberta already exceeding previous years

In 2016-17 a total of 4,494 lab confirmed cases of both strands of influenza were recorded and 64 people died as a result. For the South Zone, it was 361 cases and seven people deceased from influenza.

Two years ago, in the 2015-16 season Alberta had 5,311 lab confirmed cases of influenza, with 62 deaths from the virus. The South Zone saw 426, with five people confirmed to have died.

Lizette Elumir, Medical Officer of Health in the South Zone, says it’s important for people to get vaccinated so they’re properly protected.

“You don’t know when you’ll get sick, and you don’t know what’s going to happen to you so it’s important to get vaccinated not only for yourself, but for your family members and coworkers,” Elumir said.

It’s not just vaccination either, as Elumir says that’s only one part of taking care of yourself at this time of year.

“People need to wash their hands and avoid touching door handles after coughing or sneezing if they have the flu,” she continued. “On top of that, try not to cough into your hands but into your elbow instead to prevent the transfer of influenza.”

Elumir says the effectiveness of the vaccine varies every year, but that you have a better shot to avoid the flu with it than without it.

“Influenza is a very smart virus and can change itself to try and avoid the vaccine or the effectiveness of it. In addition to vaccination, our message every year is very broad. It’s not that if someone gets a flu shot they’ll be fine for sure, people have to take all of the necessary steps,” Elumir stated.

The official peak flu season is hard to define, and that’s according to officials in charge producing the influenza reports, mostly because as long as the virus remains out in the public it can continue to circulate.

Still, Elumir says they’ve been seeing good news lately.

“We are starting to slow down, we’re seeing our numbers be less and less every week. I do believe we’ve reached out peak, because the numbers are lower, but the problem is the virus circulates as well as it does,” Elumir said.

She, along with other health officials, all agree though that the public can take steps to stop the circulation.

“If people do stay home when they get sick, if they try and get vaccinated, and if they do the things we’re asking them to do,” she continued. “Then we stop this quicker, especially considering the way the numbers are going right now.”

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter) with files from Lara Fominoff (@LaraFominoff)

Number of influenza cases in Alberta already exceeding previous years

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