EDMONTON - The number of confirmed flu cases in Alberta continues to climb, with the Edmonton area posting the highest number of cases to date.
Alberta Health Services on Wednesday released updated influenza numbers, showing there were 1,459 cases of confirmed influenza in the province as of Jan. 12. That’s 314 more cases than on Jan. 5.
There were 595 cases in the Edmonton area, the most cases of any of the five health zones. The Calgary zone posted 394 cases.
The Edmonton region also suffered the highest number of confirmed influenza outbreaks, with 31 of the province’s 57 outbreaks happening in the capital city. The majority of flu outbreaks occurred in long-term care facilities.
AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson said hospitals continue to run at around 100 per cent capacity due to increased pressures from flu cases.
“We are still having capacity issues,” he said.
As of Jan. 12, AHS public health services had administered 465,786 doses of the influenza vaccine.
Last flu season saw 1,400 confirmed cases of influenza, with the majority of those cases occurring late in the flu season.
Edmonton Journal