High number of flu-related hospitalizations shows severity of strain, ER head says

A top emergency room doctor in Calgary is concerned by the large number of patients hospitalized with the flu so early in the season.

According to the most recent numbers from Alberta Health Services, 147 people in the Calgary zone have been admitted so far this season. That accounts for the lion's share of the 205 hospitalizations across the province.

Dr. Eddy Lang, head of adult emergency medicine for the Calgary zone, says the fact so many people are already being hospitalized is a sign of the flu's severity.

"People are coming in to the emergency department. They're feeling as though they were hit by a bus because all of their muscles are aching," he said.

"They have high fever, they'll have sore throat and cough, and they're going to be very infectious, too."

Lang says people sometimes have a false sense of security in being vaccinated, but he still strongly recommends people get their shots — saying the vaccine is a good fit for this year's strain.

"It's in no way a bulletproof shield against infection, and just because you've had the vaccine doesn't mean you can walk into a place where people are coughing or avoid the usual measures like cleaning your hands," he said.

From Aug. 26 until Nov. 10, 830,376 people across the province had received their flu shots, 349,972 of which were in Calgary and 301,748 in Edmonton.

There have been no deaths in Alberta associated to the flu so far this season.

Last year, less than 30 per cent of Albertans got immunized; 92 people died and 3,047 were admitted to hospital.

The vaccine is available in Calgary at these four clinics:

• Northgate, A154-495 36th Street N.E.
• Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, 1820 Richmond Road S.W.
• Brentwood Village Mall, 302-3630 Brentwood Road N.W.
• South Calgary Health Centre, 31 Sunpark Plaza S.E.

The clinics will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays until March. Vaccines are available free of charge to anyone over six months of age.

Vaccines are also available at walk-in clinics, pharmacies and doctors offices across the province.

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