By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

2017/18 flu cases so far nearly double that of 2016/17

Mar 26, 2018 | 1:39 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Even though the flu season traditionally begins to wind down around this time of year, weekly numbers released last Thursday (Mar. 22), show the virus is still making a big impact across the province.

The latest numbers show that there have been at least 8,514 lab confirmed cases of the flu so far during the 2017-2018 season. That number has risen by almost exactly 1,000 cases in just over one month’s time.

2,782 people have been hospitalized so far, and 85 people have died from complications of the illness.

During the 2016-2017 flu season there were just 4,494 lab confirmed flu cases, 1,653 people were admitted to the hospital and there were 64 deaths.

And it doesn’t appear as though it’s because fewer Albertans are getting the flu shot. 

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Since late October 2017, 1,223,109 Albertans have been vaccinated against the Influenza A and B Strains.

That’s 51,284 more than during the 2016/2017 season, and 76,540 more vaccinations than during the 2015/2016 season.

This year, 1.6 million doses were purchased, however there have been indications that this year’s vaccine is not as effective as those in years past.

By some reports, this year’s flu shot effectiveness for the predominant H3N2 strain is less than 20 per cent, while traditionally the flu vaccine is anywhere from about 40 to 50 per cent effective against the prevalent strains in any year.

According to AHS, the 2016/17 vaccine was 42 per cent effective against the H3N2 virus, while in 2015/16 its effectiveness was about 50 per cent.

Alberta Health has not confirmed how effective this year’s vaccine is and have said that even some protection is better than none.

It’s not clear whether AHS collect data on whether those who have been immunized are those who have also had the illness this year.