Flu cases soar as Alberta health officials work to relieve pressure on hospitals

Province says hospitalization peak likely to hit in early to mid-January.

The South Health Campus adult acute care hospital in Calgary. According to the province, as of Thursday there were 650 Albertans in hospital due to the flu. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

Jennifer Lee, CBC News Calgary Dec 19, 2025

The Alberta government says it is working to help strained hospitals as doctors raise the alarm about a wave of influenza.

Influenza case counts have more than doubled since late November, according to the province.

As of Thursday, there were 650 Albertans in hospital due to the flu.

That’s a dramatic increase in just under a week. Alberta’s respiratory virus dashboard shows 360 people were in hospital as of Dec. 13.

University of Alberta infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger said her hospital is struggling.

“Every single available space that we have has probably got a bed it. And it’s a really high-intensity environment right now,” she said.

According to Saxinger, patients are being squeezed in to make room for more.

“Basically they’re taking over medical outpatient areas to keep inpatients housed because all of the hallway spaces and spaces between beds, throughout the hospital, are already full.”

She said the emergency department is struggling to assess people because it is filled with admitted patients who can’t be moved up onto the wards because there are no available beds.

Dr. Stephen Freedman, who works in the ER at Alberta Children’s Hospital, said they’re dealing with very high patient volumes.

According to Freedman the situation has become stressful to parents, doctors, nurses and other staff, noting overnight hours are the most difficult.

“We are all being pushed to see children rapidly and make quick decisions with limited time and space to evaluate children,” Freedman said in an email.

“We are often forced to see children in locations not designed for patient care, such as waiting rooms where there is limited equipment and ancillary staffing — all of which are needed to provide the care to which children are entitled.”

Surge beds opened, no cancelled surgeries

In a news conference on Friday, the Alberta government acknowledged the increasing demand and said it is working to address capacity.

“Our emergency departments are under pressure,” said Matt Jones, the Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services.

“But it’s important to note they are dynamic and they do add additional beds and staffing… as required.”

According to Jones, surgeries have not been cancelled and emergency rooms remain open.

“At present we are opening surge beds maximizing available space, expanding virtual care and safely discharging patients while limiting transfers to high-pressure areas and continuing to recruit and add staff,” he said.

“Should demand continue to rise we are prepared to open additional surge capacity and further accelerate patient flow safely.”

The surge was expected, he said, noting 336 hospital beds have been designated for respiratory virus patients. Of those, 206 are now allocated for year-round use.

Another 130 surge beds can be added during peak periods. Alberta Health Services has previously stated that 123 of those beds have already been opened and all 206 of the year-round beds are in use.

Jones said the government continues to work toward its long-term plans to increase acute care capacity, including adding over 1,000 beds in Edmonton and Calgary, expanding the Red Deer Regional Hospital, plans for a stand-alone Stollery Children’s Hospital and the construction of eight new urgent care centres.

The province also continues to move patients who are waiting for long-term care into care homes to free up hospital beds.

“All around the country we are seeing a surge in demand related to respiratory viruses connected to the cold weather and people staying indoors. And that means that our emergency departments are exceptionally busy,” said Dr. Peter Jamieson, vice-president and chief medical officer with Alberta Health Services.

“I want to assure Albertans that we are doing everything we can to see patients quickly and to say, if you need to come to emergency we are here for you and it is safe and appropriate that you come.”

Jamieson said patients can be transferred between hospitals to minimize the impact on individual facilities.

And, he said, there are other options for people who don’t need to be seen on an emergency basis, including calling Health Link at 811 and visiting the HEAL website.

Peak to come

According to health officials, modelling shows influenza could peak by Dec. 21, with hospitalizations lagging by about a week. Predictions show RSV could peak around Jan. 11.

“So if we get to early or mid-January, based on the information we have today [and] provided the forecasting holds up, that would be when we’re through the lion’s share of the pressure,” said Jones.

Meanwhile Dr. Sam Wong, the president of the Alberta Medical Association’s pediatrics section, said at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, where he works, they’re still able to get children from the emergency room up onto the wards within six to 12 hours.

But he is worried about what’s to come in the next few weeks, as RSV starts to pick up.

“The numbers are starting to rise across the country for RSV, albeit slowly,” said Wong.

“So I’m hoping it stays away for a little bit longer until we can get through this influenza wave.… It’s going to stress the Stollery and Alberta Children’s Hospital immensely if we have a double wave.”

The government is urging Albertans to get immunized and to stay home when they’re sick.

Jennifer Lee Reporter

Jennifer Lee is a Senior Reporter for CBC News based in Calgary. She covers health stories for CBC’s web, radio and video platforms. If you have a story to share, let her know.

Source CBC News Calgary