The flu has taken 11 more lives in the central zone, which Lloydminster is included in since the beginning of flu season.
Alberta Health Services confirms a total of 61 deaths in Alberta from the flu, which is steadily climbing higher than last year’s death toll of 64 during the 2016/2017 flu season.
AHS Dr. Ifeoma Achebe says every year the flu virus is different, but this year the flu has been slightly more severe. She adds that the severity is nothing out of the ordinary.
According to the data more people have had the influenza vaccination this year than the previous year. However, the number of people being hospitalized has increased by about 600 and flu season is not over yet.
In the central zone, three more people have died and 86 more have been hospitalized since the last report on January 25th.
Dr. Achebe says the people who have died are mainly seniors because they don’t have the same capability to fight off the virus.
AHS collects data for flu season from about October to April.