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Central Zone records first influenza death of 2022/23 season

Nov 18, 2022 | 4:23 PM

The Central Zone has recorded its first influenza-linked death of the season, according to data from the Government of Alberta.

Alberta has now had six deaths from the flu this flu season.

That’s out of 2,082 cases, only nine of which were the influenza B strain, according to stats released Nov. 17 which are up to date as of Nov. 12.

A total of 34 people have landed in the ICU, and 355 have been hospitalized.

An estimated 781,868 people have received their flu vaccine, about 17.6 per cent coverage.

About 51.4 per cent of Albertans 65 years of age and older have received an influenza vaccine.

Also notable for Central Zone, there were 115 cases recorded the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, the highest one-week total for the zone since at least Oct. 2018.

Locally, Red Deer Public Schools and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has begun sharing absenteeism rates again.

There are currently six Red Deer Public schools reporting absenteeism due to illness 11 per cent or higher, and six Red Deer Catholic schools reporting at 10 per cent or higher.