25 Calgarians dead, nearly 1,000 hospitalized by 2018 flu season

Feb 24 2018, 2:36 am

Alberta has been hit hard by this year’s flu season, and nowhere is the virus more evident than in Calgary.

Since August 28, 2017, the City of Calgary has lost a total of 25 lives to flu-related illnesses, accounting for more than one-third of Alberta’s 69 total deaths.

According to Alberta Health Services, the city has also seen 955 people admitted to hospital with lab confirmed influenza, well ahead of Edmonton where 781 hospital patients have been admitted.

flu

2017/2018 Influenza Season Weekly Report #15 (Alberta Health Services)

Compared to the numbers seen during Alberta flu seasons in years past, 2018 is looking to be one of the deadliest.

2016/2017 only saw 64 total deaths with 19 in the Calgary zone, and 2015/2016 had 62 total with 29 being from Calgary.

There is a little good news, at least, as stats from Alberta Heath Services also show that the number of people receiving immunization in Calgary has been steadily improving over the past three seasons, going from 468,000 to 492,000 between 2016 and 2017, and 2018 currently showing that 516,000 have received their shot.

The latest report was released on February 22, and tracks data up until February 17.

See also
DH Calgary StaffDH Calgary Staff

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