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“The actions to reduce the risk of getting the flu are the same as the ones we need to continue for COVID,” said Dr. Dina Hinshaw.
Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist Shivali Sharma makes flu shot in Edmonton on Thursday, November 12, 2020. Photo: Ed Kaiser / Postmedia
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Influenza cases have risen in Alberta in recent weeks, marking the return of the disease after zero confirmed cases in the province last year.
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Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr. Dinah Hinshaw, said Wednesday during a COVID-19 update that 707 cases of seasonal flu have been reported in the province this year. Online data show that a large number of these cases were laboratory confirmed in April. There were more than 8,000 laboratory-confirmed cases in the 2019-2020 season.
“We have more than 700 diagnosed cases in Alberta this season, most of which have been identified in the last two months,” Hinshaw said. “Actions to reduce the risk of influenza infection are the same as those we need to continue for COVID – wash our hands regularly, stay home if we get sick and, for those at higher risk of severe outcomes, consider actions such as wearing masks when in public ”
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A total of 68 people in Alberta needed hospital care, including three who were admitted to intensive care. No one has died from the flu this year.
Dr Jia Hu, a public health doctor, said a number of respiratory illnesses seemed to be rampant in the province as people began to interact more often.
“What people are doing now is going out more, which is actually very good for people. But that brings back the flu. “All the other respiratory viruses are coming back, you know, things like RSV,” Hu said. “The other factor that I think is really interesting about this is that we didn’t have the flu in the 2020-21 season, our absorption of vaccines has dropped a lot.
Just over 1.2 million flu vaccines have been given in Alberta this season, according to data posted on the government’s website. More than 1.6 million doses were administered at that time last year.
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Hu said that while Alberta usually has low absorption, people’s level of concern about the disease will affect the steps they take to protect themselves from it.
“Currently, no one should be immune to a natural infection. So I think it’s important for people to get vaccinated against the flu in the fall, “Hu said.
Dr. Jia Hu poses for a photo in the park on Prince Island. Saturday, June 26, 2021 Photo by Brendan Miller / Postmedia
Of the 707 cases in Alberta, 236 are in the Calgary area and another 208 are in the southern area. Hu said Calgary usually sees cases before the rest of the province. He said it was not clear why this was happening, but that the density of cities or international travel could play a role.
He said Calgary was often an indicator of what might happen in other parts of the province, but noted that this flu season was nearing its end, warning that the largest city in Alberta could show early signs of what the next flu season may bring.
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Dr Eddie Lang, head of the emergency department at Cumming Medical School, said that although there were cases after almost two years without laboratory-reported flu, the jump was still much lower than before the pandemic. He said he hoped the coming warm weather and the heightened sense of people staying home when they were sick would help reduce the incidence.
“Nobody goes to the movies with a cold right now, do they?” “Maybe it’s just a wish, but we’ve learned, my God, not to spread your respiratory germs when you have symptoms,” Lang said. “I’m not a virologist, I’m not an influenza specialist, so I don’t know what asymptomatic transmission of the flu is, but in terms of symptomatic transmission, if you have a sore throat, stay home.
Alberta Health spokeswoman Lisa Glover said the jump at the end of the season was unusual, but not unique to Canada, with the United States and parts of Europe also rising.
“This is not unexpected, as the courts are beginning to lift the measures for COVID-19. “Measures that have helped prevent the transmission of COVID-19 are also effective against influenza, which is much less transmitted,” Glover said.
She noted that 707 cases have been tested in the laboratory to inform treatment and more cases are expected in the community.
“With files from Jason Herring.”
dshort@postmedia.com
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