Flu deaths in Alberta twice the last two seasons combined

The number of Albertans that have died from the flu this season is more than double the last two years combined.

So far there have been 78 deaths, while there were 30 last year and 37 the year before.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. James Talbot has explained that this year’s flu vaccine is offering little to no protection against the predominant H3N2 strain going around in Alberta.

He also says that seniors have been hit particularly hard, with four times the amount of lab-confirmed cases in residents over the age of 80 than there were last year.