While the number of influenza cases, specifically cases of H1N1, continues to grow in Edmonton and the province, Alberta’s health minister is pushing anyone who hasn’t received the flu shot, to go get one, in an effort to slow the illness’ spread.

On Thursday, Alberta Health Services said the number of lab-confirmed flu cases in Alberta had increased from 662 cases the previous week, to 965, with 920 of those confirmed to be H1N1.

In Edmonton, the number of cases had also grown from more than 250 to 371 cases, with 350 cases of H1N1.

Five people have died in Alberta since the current flu season started – three in Edmonton, and two in Calgary. AHS officials said the ages of patients confirmed to have the H1N1 flu virus range in age from their late 30s to 80s, and more than 250 patients have been hospitalized with influenza.

“Of the hospitalized patients, the majority did have at least one risk factor, and again, a lot of them were younger and that is a concern to us,” AHS senior medical officer of health Dr. Gerry Predy said.

“We are beginning to see increasing strain on the health care system that has the potential to escalate,” Health Minister Fred Horne said. “What do I mean by this? I mean, unnecessary hospital admissions – they’re necessary admissions, but they are in many cases the result of people not being immunized or coming into contact with people who are not immunized.

“We are seeing very busy emergency departments, they are normally quite busy in our major centres, but they’re made even more so by the flu.”

In addition, the province is taking a new tactic to encourage Alberta’s healthcare workers to get their flu shots – AHS said about 49 percent of health care workers have been immunized.

“Quite frankly, we can’t afford to lose any health care workers who are off from a preventable illness like the flu,” Horne said.

AHS will be releasing staff immunization rates at health care facilities, in an effort to monitor numbers – currently, flu shots are not mandatory for health care staff.

As for the rest of the population, officials said about 800,000 Albertans, or one fifth of the population had been immunized before Friday – but health officials said it’s not enough.

“We are by no means at a point where we are protected as a population,” Horne said.

Long lineups for flu shot clinics in Edmonton

Meanwhile, AHS has opened a series of influenza immunization clinics in an effort to get more people vaccinated.

On Friday, the two clinics that were open in Edmonton were dealing with long lineups.

By midday, the clinic open at the Bonnie Doon Health Centre had a lineup stretching outside the front doors of the facility – and staff were giving people numbers and asking them to return later.

Usually, at this time of year, flu shot clinics in Alberta are winding down – but the growing number of flu cases has pushed health officials to extend the program, and make it more easily available to Albertans.

The locations, dates and times of the remaining flu shot clinics are as follows:

  • West Jasper Place Health Centre (9720 182 Street NW) on Tuesday, January 7 (12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • Northgate Health Centre (9499 137 Avenue NW) Sunday, January 5 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Tuesday, January 7 (12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and Friday, January 10 (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • Bonnie Doon Health Centre (8314 88 Avenue NW) Friday, January 10 (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

More information on the flu shot clinics can be found online.

The immunizations are also available at pharmacies and doctor's offices.

With files from Ashley Molnar and  Laura Tupper