Province reports baby died of influenza in Alberta | CBC News
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An Alberta infant has died of the flu, the first death of someone under the age of 20 so far this flu season.
The province says the child was under a year old, but can not confirm the exact age, gender, or where they lived, due to privacy reasons.
The infant died in December, during the peak of flu season in the province. The province says it is only being made public now because pediatric deaths related to respiratory illnesses require additional investigations for confirmation.
Some physicians have called this flu season one of the deadliest in recent memory in Alberta. The province’s online dashboard counts 258 influenza deaths this season.
In a statement, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange expressed her condolences to the family, and all families who have lost a loved one to influenza this season.
“Losing a child is unimaginable, and my heart goes out to this family. This is a heartbreaking reminder of how severe influenza can be, particularly for our youngest and most vulnerable,” LaGrange said.
The minister encouraged all Albertans to take steps to protect themselves from the flu, including getting a flu shot, staying home when sick, and calling Health Link at 811 if needed.