Calgary

4 more people die of flu in Calgary this week, as province hits 19 deaths from virus

With double the number of laboratory confirmed cases and three times the number of deaths, the latest numbers released from Alberta Health Services reveal this year's flu strain is continuing to hit Calgary much harder than Edmonton.

12 people with lab-confirmed influenza have died in the Calgary zone, while Edmonton has had 4 deaths

flu shot needle
Nearly 1.12 million doses of the flu vaccine have been administered in Alberta this year. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

With double the number of laboratory confirmed cases and three times the number of deaths, the latest numbers released from Alberta Health Services reveal this year's flu strain is continuing to hit Calgary much harder than Edmonton.

AHS says that of the 2,638 cases of Influenza A strain in the province, the Calgary zone has seen 1,120, while 564 were recorded in the Edmonton zone.

The Central and North zones have each had roughly 350 cases. There were 197 in the South zone and 45 not assigned to a zone.

There were four more deaths attributed to the flu this week in Calgary, which brings the total number up to 12.

Nineteen people have died with confirmed cases of the flu so far in the province — four were in Edmonton, two of the deaths were reported in the South zone and the North zone saw one.

The province has seen 867 Albertans admitted to hospital with the flu, with more than half (488) reported in the Calgary zone. Only 218 people have been admitted to hospital in Edmonton with the flu. 

Across the province, nearly 1.12 million doses of the influenze vaccine have been administered. 

A total of 1.17 million people were vaccinated in Alberta during the last flu season.