Flu Season Persists in Alberta: Protect the Vulnerable

0:00It's April 1st, I'm Cory with the story. This is Canada News today, driven by AI. A Calgary mom named Aaron Nichols is sounding the alarm that flu season ain't done in Alberta yet. Her four-year-old son Arthur, Battles leukemia, diagnosed two years back, and he just caught influenza B despite the family getting vaccinated last. Fall. His chemo weakens his immune system, so even a fever landed him in the emergency room twice with a possible secondary infection. He's a B-hit later this season, causing a resurgence through February and March after an early drop. Cases climb recently, but dipped a bit this week, with positivity rates around 10 percent province-wide. Hospital stays and overall numbers are way down from the December peak, but Alberta's logged 263 flu deaths so far, including a baby under one. Nichols, who's also a family physician, knows the risks firsthand. Every cough sends her spiraling to worst-case thoughts like sepsis.

1:00Extra ER trips mean more exposure to stuff like measles and strain on packed hospitals. Arthur's treatment wraps up in June, but she's laser-focused on shielding kids like him. Experts back her up, like Edmonton pediatrician Sam Wong, who says immunosuppress folks, young kids and seniors, face higher odds of ICU stays. He pushes shots for them in their close contacts to build community protection. As cases ease off, Nichols wants better flu shot access next fall. No more parents missing appointments, time to think beyond yourself, and backs up for the vulnerable in the mix.