Alberta sees spike over holidays in respiratory infections [Video]

It has been a sick start to the new year for many Albertans, with a significant increase in the number of respiratory infections over the holidays.

“Everyone has runny noses, coughs. The kids have little fevers,” said Jennifer Steward, whose family of five in Calgary started feeling sick on New Year’s Day.

“It’s awful. Sleep is awful. Stuck in the house and combined with the cold snap, we can’t go anywhere.”

According to the most recent public data from the province’s respiratory virus dashboard, the number of Albertans in hospital with influenza and RSV more than doubled over a two-week period, from Dec. 8 to 14 and Dec. 22 to 28.

As of Dec. 28, 214 people were in hospital with RSV and 12 more people died from the virus, for a total of 13 deaths this season.

The number of people hospitalized with the flu more than doubled to 197, with …