Some Alberta doctors say neonatal intensive care units are in 'crisis,' putting vulnerable babies at risk, and they're calling on the provincial government to take immediate action.
Story👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID:
Deaths (since end of Aug): 531 (up from 527 last wk)
In hospital (primary/contributing): 99/8 icu (123/6)
FLU:
Deaths: 163 (162)
In hosp (primary/contr) 51/6 (45/4)
RSV:
In hosp (including incidental) 51/2 (59/7)

Major health-care unions are raising the alarm about Alberta's planned transition to a new mental health and addictions agency, which will affect thousands of health-care staff.
The pushback includes an unfair labour practice complaint.
Latest👇

cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID:
Deaths this season: 520 (up from 507 last wk)
In hospital (primary/contributing): 133/4 (128/6)
FLU:
Deaths: 158 (157)
In hosp (primary/contr) 48/6 (28/3)
RSV:
In hosp (incl incidental) 76/6 (94/11)

Alberta's first training program for physician assistants, at the University of Calgary, is gearing up for an August launch, sparking hopes it could provide some relief to the province's health-care crisis.
My latest👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

There are calls for Alberta to improve access to publicly funded measles vaccines, by allowing pharmacists to provide them, as some Albertans struggle to access the shots👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update:
COVID:
Deaths this season: 507 (up from 495 last wk)
In hospital (primary/contributing): 128/6 (140/5)
FLU:
Deaths: 157 (156)
In hosp (primary/contr): 28/3 (31/4)
RSV:
In hosp (incl incidental): 94/11

Health-care staff are now being shifted from AHS to the provincial health department as Alberta forges ahead with its controversial restructuring plans.
126 AHS staff have been terminated + offered gov't jobs, as worries emerge about pay cuts
My latest👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID:
Deaths this season: 495 (last wk: 474)
In hospital (primary/contributing): 140/5icu (145/5)
FLU:
Deaths: 156
In hosp (primary/contr): 31/4icu (44/5)
RSV:
In hosp (incl incidental): 87/10 (109/11)

Okotoks is now hit with an outbreak of pertussis.
17 cases since Nov/23. All locally acquired, according to AHS
(+22 cases in other parts of Calgary zone)
It's the latest in a string of Alberta outbreaks, as vaccination rates drop
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

As a health reporter, I find data-sharing in Canada a constant challenge. Take our federal #measles tracking, for instance. It's 2+ weeks old, showing just 7 cases (when there are now 17 in Quebec alone) making it woefully out of date.
canada.ca/en/public-heal…

Alberta's failed attempt to privatize lab services was an expensive and unnecessary lesson for the government, critics say, as the price tag becomes increasingly clear
Cost to buy Dynalife = $31.5M
Assumed liabilities = $65.5M
My latest👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Alberta's weekly respiratory virus update👇
COVID:
Total deaths this season: 474 (464 last wk)
In hospital (primary/contributing ) 145/5 icu (154/4)
FLU:
Deaths: 156 (153)
In hospital (primary/contr): 44/5 (55/5)
RSV:
In hosp (including incidental) 109/11 (138/11)

The promise of $810M over 3 yrs for Red Deer's hospital expansion is being met with relief + renewed calls for a plan to address immediate pressures
Construction on the $1.8B project has yet to start (in design phase)
Expected to be done 2030-31
Latest👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Here's the info from BC government on the measles case that has been confirmed there👇
news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024H…

NEW: One case of #measles was reported over the weekend in B.C., according to the BC Centre for Disease Control. No further details were provided regarding that infection. The province's last measles case was in 2019.

Alberta's respiratory virus update:
COVID-19:
Deaths: 464 (472 last week) 2 new
(can drop when previously reported deaths are reclassified)
In hosp(primary/contributing) 154/4icu (164/4)
FLU:
Deaths: 153 (152)
In hosp (primary/contr) 55/5 (51/7)
RSV:
In hosp: 138/11 (144/12)

In Ontario:

Albertans will pay more if they smoke, vape -- or going to drive an electric vehicle. Details: cbc.ca/news/canada/ca… #yyc #yeg #ableg #abpoli #EVs

Pertussis cases are still rising in Alberta
78 cases so far this year
AHS data shows, 966 cases reported since Nov 2022 with 29 hospitalizations
Zone breakdwn:
South: 452
Central: 68
Calgary: 42
Edmonton: 39
North: 365
Latest from me👇
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…