Alberta's government is helping residents to become flu fighters..“The annual influenza or flu season is here. Albertans are encouraged to get their flu shots and take steps to help reduce the spread of influenza," Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Dr. Mark Joffe said..On Wednesday, Joffe issued a statement about the increase of respiratory viruses in Alberta and said Alberta's government is prepared for a severe flu season..“Winter is historically the peak season for respiratory infections. Like other jurisdictions, Alberta is seeing an early rise in seasonal infections including influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19, and is expecting a severe season," Joffe said..“The influenza season in Australia often predicts the type of season we will see in Canada. This year, Australia had a severe respiratory virus season.".Joffe explained that in Australia, the highest rates of influenza disease were in children and teenagers, and children under 16-years-old which accounted for the majority of influenza hospitalizations. Influenza can also have a severe impact on the elderly..“While most children, youth, and adults recover from the flu without complications, some can get very sick and need to be treated in hospital," Joffe said..“We can expect to see similar outcomes in Alberta. Over the last few weeks, Alberta has seen an increase in reports of symptoms such as cough and fever in schools and daycares. We are monitoring the situation in schools closely.".On Tuesday, Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) said it will be reaching out to Alberta's CMOH to request students be masked due to illness "outbreaks.".READ MORE: Edmonton Public Schools asks province to bring back mask mandates during 'outbreaks'.During a board meeting, trustees voted in favour of writing a letter to the CMOH requesting thresholds to determine when health mandates should be implemented in schools..RSV is one of the most common viral infections in childhood, especially during the colder months. While not considered a risk to the general public, almost all children will have an RSV infection by the time they are two years of age..For many kids, RSV symptoms look like a common cold. For others, including young babies or children with lung diseases or weakened immune systems, symptoms can be more severe and lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia..Joffe explained in his statement the province continues to transition back to longstanding practices to manage respiratory infections in general.."That includes local public health officials notifying schools of outbreaks and giving them advice and support as needed. Transmission levels will fluctuate over time and between communities. We encourage Albertans to judge their risk at any point in time and take appropriate precautions," Joffe said..“I encourage Albertans to take simple, daily actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses: Stay home when feeling sick.".Joffe also encouraged Albertans to make the choice to stay up to date on their vaccinations and speak to a physician or other care provider if residents of the province have questions about options.."Wearing a well-fitting, high-quality mask can help reduce the risk of becoming sick and help protect others from being exposed. Albertans should be supported regardless of their choice to mask or not," Joffe said..Joffe then offered the following tips to help Albertans combat the flu:.If possible, avoid close contact with people who are sick.Regularly clean hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.Maintain good respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes.Avoid or limit time spent in crowded indoor places.Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items at home, especially when someone in your home is sick..Influenza typically begins with a sudden onset of fever, body aches, headache, and fatigue. Most healthy people will recover from influenza in seven to 10 days, but it can take a couple of weeks to fully recover.
