Influenza in Alberta: Cases remain low, no new deaths reported for second week
No Albertans died from influenza this week according to the latest data, while only 35 new cases were reported.
The death toll this flu season remains at 116.
In-hospital deaths as well as deaths in community settings reported by first responders are included in that number, while data for seasons prior to 2021-2022 only include hospital deaths.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
This season, 2,055 Albertans have required hospital care because of influenza. There were 11 new admissions since the last update.
This season has the second-highest number of hospitalizations in 14 seasons.
The Calgary zone has had the most patients requiring hospital care, with 766, followed by the Edmonton zone’s 585.
Of the 11 new admissions between March 5 and March 11, 73 per cent were 30 or older. Three of the admissions were children between the ages of one and four.
To date, 212 people have required intensive care. Two new patients were admitted in this update. Both were children between the ages of one and four.
The majority of ICU patients this season have also been in the Calgary zone.
CASES
Alberta reported 35 new infections on Thursday, an increase of five compared to the week prior. New case numbers have stayed below 50 for four consecutive weeks.
According to Alberta Health data, this season has the second-highest number of cases in 14 seasons, with 8,959 infections so far. The 2017-18 flu season had the highest number of cases, with 9,115.
The Calgary zone has had the highest number of influenza cases in the province, totalling 3,010 so far.
The Edmonton zone has the second-highest number of cases in Alberta, with 2,600.
The Central zone has had 1,066 cases; the North zone has reported 1,590 cases, while the South zone has counted 684. Nine cases have not been assigned a zone.
Influenza A has made up 98.2 per cent of this season’s laboratory-confirmed cases.
OUTBREAKS AND VACCINATIONS
There have been a total of 98 outbreaks in Alberta this season. Fifty-five per cent have been at supportive-living and home-living sites. There were no new outbreaks in this update.
More than 1.3 million influenza vaccines have been administered since Oct. 17, translating to 27.6 per cent of Albertans being immunized. There are also 65,799 more people vaccinated compared to this time last year.
Of Albertans aged 65 or older, 63.8 per cent have been vaccinated for influenza, while 29.3 per cent of children between six months and four years have their vaccine.
Alberta updates its influenza data on Thursdays.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
Israel pushes deeper into Rafah and battles a regrouping Hamas in northern Gaza
Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Sunday and battled Hamas in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago but where militants have regrouped.
Thousands of civilians flee northeast Ukraine as Russia presses a renewed border assault
Thousands more civilians have fled Russia's renewed ground offensive in Ukraine's northeast that has targeted towns and villages with a barrage of artillery and mortar fire, officials said Sunday.
An apartment block collapses in a Russian border city after heavy shelling, killing at least 2
An apartment block partially collapsed in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Sunday, leaving at least two dead and 20 injured. Officials blamed Ukrainian shelling for the building's destruction.