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Infleunza

AHS releases first influenza report of season

Nov 8, 2019 | 12:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Alberta Health Services says over 700,000 Albertans have received their flu shots this year, according to data released on Friday.

As of November 2, 713,202 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered to Albertans.

Of those vaccines, 52,998 doses have been administered in the South Zone, which includes Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.

Flu clinics began in Alberta on October 21.

The data says there have been 111 lab confirmed cases of influenza A, and 28 cases of influenza B. The majority of influenza A cases are in the Calgary Zone, with 61 reported cases, while Edmonton has 31 cases. The North Zone has eight influenza A cases, the Central Zone has seven cases and the South Zone has four cases.

Calgary and Edmonton both have nine confirmed cases of influenza B. The South Zone has 7 confirmed cases, while the North Zone has 2 confirmed cases. One case of influenza B is currently classed as unknown.

A total of 42 people in the province has been hospitalized due to influenza. The majority of hospitalizations have occurred in Calgary (27) and Edmonton (10). Four hospitalizations have occurred in the Central Zone, while one has occurred in the North Zone.

There have been no hospitalizations reported in the South Zone.

There has also been no lab-confirmed influenza deaths in Alberta this season.

AHS releases updated reports on Thursday.