The flu kills five and sends nearly 300 to the Calgary hospital

The new flu has killed five and has hospitalized nearly 300 people in the Calgary area this season, according to new figures.

While the flu hits Alberta, the Calgary area is the most affected by infections. Of 427 laboratory-confirmed influenza-badociated hospitalizations, 293 were in Calgary. Of the six laboratory-confirmed deaths, one was in the North Zone and one in Calgary.

The Alberta Health Service updates its infection register every Thursday, but does not say more about deaths, including the age of the victims.

Vaccinations

The senior physician in the Calgary emergency rooms said the high number of hospitalizations in Calgary is an indication of the severity of the flu. Dr. Eddy Lang stated that people who arrived at the emergency department suffered from muscle pain, high fever, coughing and sore throat.

Lang urged Calgary residents to get vaccinated and protect themselves by washing their hands and avoiding places where others are sick.

Since August 26, more than 413,000 Calgary citizens have been vaccinated against the flu.

The annual vaccine is free in Alberta for anyone over six months old. It can be received in pharmacies, walk-in clinics and doctor's offices.

There are also a handful of vaccination clinics that will vaccinate non-residents of Alberta:

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

Last year, less than 30% of Albertans were vaccinated. That year, 32 people died of the flu, including 1,120 hospitalized in Calgary.

This year's vaccine proved to be better than last year's vaccine to prevent respiratory illness caused by the prevailing strain of influenza. Health Canada has also approved a nasal spray vaccine for those who can not or will not receive the vaccine.