Chief medical officer of health says Alberta appears to be experiencing its worst flu season yet

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says while it’s not over yet, the province appears to be through the worst of the bad flu season.

Alberta had early and “exceptionally large” impacts. wave of influenza December put enormous pressure on hospitals that were already under stress.

The flu surge is caused by H3N2, a strain of influenza A.

Dr. Vivian Satorp, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said it is more severe and most commonly affects older people, the very young and people with chronic conditions.

“Early indicators are that influenza A activity has reached its peak,” Satorp said during a news conference in Calgary on Tuesday.

“We are now seeing a decline in test positivity rates, the number of cases beginning to decline and the number of Albertans hospitalized with influenza A beginning to decline.”

Hospitalizations due to the respiratory virus peaked on Dec. 31, according to Sturp.

At that time, 995 Albertans were in hospital, including 700 due to influenza, 195 due to COVID-19 and 100 due to RSV.

As of Tuesday, 706 people were hospitalized, including 513 due to influenza, 118 due to COVID-19 and 85 related to RSV.

He said the number of hospitalizations may increase slightly once reporting is finalized, but the number is not expected to exceed that reported during the last week of December.

“This is welcome progress. But it doesn’t mean the season is over or that we should let our guard down,” Sutorp said.

Complications of influenza, including heart attacks and strokes, may be delayed, he said.

health system under pressure

Influenza B, which emerges late in the season, is now on the rise.

“Although these waves tend to be small, and associated with mild outcomes in immunized Albertans, they can still cause significant disease, especially in those who are not protected. We are watching those trends closely,” Satorp said.

RSV activity is also increasing in the province.

That’s a little later than usual, and Sutorp expects the numbers to continue rising through the end of January.

“Our health system, like others across the country, is under tremendous pressure. Hospitals and emergency departments remain busy with patients suffering from respiratory viruses as well as the usual concerns seen during the winter months,” Suttorp said.

Hospital capacity update required

have been doctors alarm for weeks about overcrowding in emergency rooms and has told the province declare a state of emergency To address the situation.

Alberta protest ndp Putting pressure on the government to take additional steps.

In a statement, NDP hospital services critic Sarah Hoffman Said that although the peak of the current flu outbreak “may be behind us”, the system remains “in crisis”.

“Overcrowding and long waits for care didn’t start with the respiratory virus, and it won’t end without new steps,” the statement said.

Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones Posted on social media This week officials from his ministry, along with Acute Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health, will provide an update Thursday on hospital capacity.

Meanwhile, Suttorp said 74 percent of hospitalized flu cases are unvaccinated and urged people to get vaccinated, wash hands regularly and stay home if sick.

Despite concerns about the spread of the new branch of H3N2 and the mismatch between the vaccine, Satorp said vaccination still provides protection and helps reduce the rate of hospitalization and serious outcomes.

Alberta data shows 19 per cent of Albertans have been vaccinated against the flu so far this season.