AHS confirms first flu death of the season in Calgary

A person in Calgary with a confirmed case of the flu has died, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says.

It's the first reported death of a person with the flu in the province this flu season.

"We know every year influenza can cause hospitalization and deaths," said Judy MacDonald, AHSmedical officer of health.

Of the 361 lab-confirmed cases of Influenza A and 13 confirmed cases of Influenza B, 118 people were admitted to hospital between Aug. 28 and Nov. 26,the latestnumbers from AHS show.

Notably, 245 cases of Influenza A originated from the Calgary zone much higher than anywhere else in the province.

"It's our turn, I guess, this year," said MacDonald of the higher rates in the city.

Eighty people in Calgary have been hospitalized, compared to 12 in Edmonton, 14 in the south zone, 7 in the central zone and 5 in the north zone.

Those most at risk include children under age two, seniors aged 65 and over, those with heart disease and pregnant women.

ButMacDonald encourages vaccination for everyone.

"Even healthy people can get influenza and have bad outcomes. And that's why we always say, 'Get immunized.'"

Last year, 62 people with lab-confirmed influenza died. Of the 5,311 recorded cases, 1,698 people werehospitalized.

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