Alberta: With the Alberta Children’s Hospital have packed emergency department and lineups sometimes stretching out the door, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe said that Albertans are encouraged to get their flu shots and take steps to help reduce the spread of influenza.
“Winter is historically the peak season for respiratory infections. Like other jurisdictions, Alberta is seeing an early rise in seasonal infections including influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19, and is expecting a severe season.
“In Australia, the highest rates of influenza disease were in children and teenagers, and children under 16 years of age accounted for the majority of influenza hospitalizations. Influenza can also have a severe impact on the elderly.”
He said that while most children, youth and adults recover from the flu without complications, some can get very sick and need to be treated in hospital.
“We can expect to see similar outcomes in Alberta. Over the last few weeks, Alberta has seen an increase in reports of symptoms such as cough and fever in schools and daycares. We are monitoring the situation in schools closely,” he said.