Alberta flu season hits 428 cases and 1 death as vaccine rollout nears October 19

Alberta's flu season is arriving early and hard. Since August 30, the province has recorded 428 lab-confirmed influenza cases and one death — a person in their 70s in the Calgary area.

In the single week of September 27 to October 3, Alberta saw 194 cases, 21 hospitalizations, and 2 ICU admissions. Craig Jenne, an infectious diseases professor at the University of Calgary, said Radio that while the strain circulating is typical, "the early arrival, lots of cases early in the season" signals what may come. "We've unfortunately seen record years of hospitalizations and severe illness," Jenne said, citing Alberta's declining vaccination rates over recent years.

The flu vaccine becomes available to the general public on October 19, though some congregate-care settings are already vaccinating vulnerable residents. Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, an emergency physician and public health professor at the University of Alberta, emphasized the stakes: "Influenza's not just a cold; influenza's a pretty nasty virus." But he also offered reassurance: "The good news is that influenza by and large is mostly preventable if you get vaccinated."

For those not vaccinated, Francescutti advised hand-washing, masking when sick, and staying home during illness. Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an immunologist at the University of Alberta, warned that the early timing is concerning. She told the Edmonton Journal that the early arrival is worrying, as typically flu activity builds later in the season.

Alberta's Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services said it is monitoring respiratory virus activity closely, noting that while influenza is elevated, COVID-19 and RSV remain low relative to previous seasons.