One-hundred-and-three died a flu-related death in Alberta in the 2014-15 season, more than twice last’s season’s grim total. In Canada overall there were more deaths from influenza in 2014-15, with 562 people dieing from the flu, compared to 331 last season; in 2011-12 there were 104 deaths attributed to the flu in Canada.
Dr. Joanna Oda with Alberta Health Services notes that there are more than one reason for the increase this flu season. One factor, Dr. Oda said, was that there was “a mutation in the dominant strain and the vaccine was less effective than we hoped.”
This year’s dominant strain, the H3N2 , consistently takes a large toll.
“Years where the dominant strain is H3N2 do tend to hit a bit harder than when other strains circulate,” she said. “H3 flus tend to target elders, so people over the age of 65, and they tend to be more susceptible to some of the severe outcomes such as death and hospitalization.”
Finally, she noted that in Alberta there is an increase in population, which translates into an increase in illness. However, most of the deaths from flu are senior citizens who live in homes for the elderly.
There is work being done, Dr. Oda said, to make the vaccine for the H3N2 more effective the next time the strain comes around, and she added that the safest route to take with the flu is to get vaccinated.
