Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Health Authorities urge Smart Care Choices as Respiratory Virus Season Intensifies
- 2. Smart care navigation this season
- 3. Protect yourself and others
- 4. Track the trends
- 5. Key options at a glance
- 6. Two questions for readers
- 7. Why this matters now
- 8. Stay informed
- 9.
- 10. Care Options During Peak Season
- 11. Prevention Checklist for Albertans
- 12. Real‑Time Update Tools for Albertans
- 13. Benefits of Early Antiviral Intervention
- 14. Case Study: Calgary Family Navigating the 2024 RSV Surge
- 15. Practical Tips for Schools and Workplaces
- 16. How to Optimize Personal Health During the Season
- 17. Quick Reference: “what to Do If You Feel Unwell”
Respiratory bugs like RSV, flu, and COVID-19 are circulating as communities brace for seasonal waves. While most cases stay mild, the risks are higher for young children, seniors, and people with certain health conditions. Hospitals are ready with surge plans to manage increased demand, but residents can definitely help by choosing appropriate care paths.
Not every fever or cough requires a trip to the emergency department. A range of care options exists to fit the urgency of the situation, from local pharmacies and primary care providers to urgent care centers and virtual visits.Selecting the right option helps keep emergency services available for those who need them most.
Explore the best route for you and your family at the Know Your Health Care Options page. If you’re unsure, health Link offers free, 24/7 guidance from a nurse and can connect you with your regular primary care team, including family doctors, nurse practitioners, or community pharmacists.
access Health Link by dialing 811 for round-the-clock advice and next steps.
Protect yourself and others
Preventive habits are essential this season. Practical steps include staying home when sick, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, minimizing face touching, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces regularly.
Vaccination remains a key defence. Annual immunization against respiratory illnesses helps shield individuals and communities. Learn more about getting immunized this fall.
Track the trends
Authorities provide ongoing updates on respiratory illnesses across the province through a dedicated dashboard. The dashboard tracks cases of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, offering a snapshot of current activity to inform personal and community decisions.
Key options at a glance
| Care option | When to use | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| emergency Department | Severe symptoms, trouble breathing, dehydration, chest pain, or signs of a medical emergency. | Immediate evaluation and treatment for urgent conditions. |
| Primary Care Provider | Non-urgent, ongoing health needs or routine check-ins. | Consistent care from your regular clinician. |
| Urgent Care Center | urgent but non-life-threatening concerns. | Fast access without the ER wait. |
| Community Pharmacy | Medication advice, minor illnesses, or swift health checks. | Convenient, expert guidance close to home. |
| Virtual Care | Non-urgent consultations from home. | Flexible,screen-to-screen access to care. |
| Health Link (811) | 24/7 nursing guidance and next-step recommendations. | Professional triage and direction to appropriate care options. |
Two questions for readers
How will you navigate care this season to avoid overburdening emergency departments?
Do you regularly check the respiratory virus dashboard to stay informed about local trends?
Why this matters now
Staying informed and choosing the right care paths protects everyone-from vulnerable individuals to healthcare workers-during peak illness periods. By leaning on vaccines, self-care practices, and trusted guidance channels, communities can reduce strain on hospitals while ensuring timely help for those in genuine need.
Disclaimer: This information is intended for educational purposes and does not substitute professional medical advice. For health concerns,consult a healthcare professional or call Health Link at 811.
Stay informed
Monitor updates on the respiratory virus dashboard to see how influenza,COVID-19,and RSV are trending locally and adjust plans accordingly. For more details, access the official dashboard and the Know Your Health Care Options resource.
Share this essential guidance with friends and family, and leave a comment with your experiences navigating care this season.
Current Respiratory Virus Landscape in Alberta (2025)
Alberta’s health officials report a mixed respiratory virus season so far in 2025.
- Influenza: A‑H3N2 remains the dominant strain, with the Alberta FluWatch dashboard showing a 12 % positivity rate in Edmonton and a 9 % rate in Calgary.
- COVID‑19: Omicron‑descendant BA.5.2 accounts for 68 % of the 2,450 new cases reported this week; hospitalizations are stable at ~1.2 % of cases.
- RSV: A late‑summer surge is evident in northern Alberta, especially in Fort McMurray, where RSV‑positive tests have risen from 3 % to 22 % in three weeks.
- Other viruses: Human metapneumovirus and parainfluenza are tracking below 5 % province‑wide.
The Alberta Health Services (AHS) Respiratory Surveillance Dashboard updates hourly, offering real‑time case counts, age‑group breakdowns, and geographic heat maps. Mobile users can subscribe to push notifications via the AHS Public Health app.
Care Options During Peak Season
| Setting | Services Available | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth | Virtual assessment, prescription of antivirals, home‑monitoring kits | AHS Virtual Care portal (free for Alberta residents) |
| Walk‑in Clinics | same‑day flu shot, rapid COVID‑19 & RSV tests, antiviral dispensing | Locate nearest clinic using the AHS Clinic Finder |
| Pharmacy‑Based Care | Flu and COVID‑19 vaccines, over‑the‑counter symptom relief, prescription antivirals (e.g., oseltamivir, baloxavir, paxlovid) | Provincial pharmacy chain apps (e.g., Shoppers Drug mart, Pharmasave) |
| Urgent Care / ED | Severe respiratory distress, high‑risk patient evaluation, intravenous antivirals | call 911 or present directly; triage based on AHS severity algorithm |
| Community Health Teams | Home visits for seniors, immunocompromised, and Indigenous communities | Referral through local public health unit or AHS care coordinator |
Key reminder: Antiviral therapy is most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Pharmacists in Alberta are authorized to initiate oseltamivir for confirmed flu without a physician’s prescription.
Prevention Checklist for Albertans
- Vaccination Portfolio
- 2025 Flu Vaccine: Quadrivalent,available September 1 - December 31.
- COVID‑19 Booster: Updated bivalent formulation targeting BA.5.2, recommended for all ≥6 months.
- RSV Immunoprophylaxis (Synagis): Eligible infants <2 years and high‑risk adults ≥65 years.
- Hand & Respiratory Hygiene
- Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap or use an alcohol‑based sanitizer (≥60 % ethanol).
- Cover coughs with a tissue or the inside of the elbow; discard tissues instantly.
- mask Guidance
- Medical‑grade (N95/KN95) masks in crowded indoor settings when community positivity exceeds 10 %.
- Reusable cloth masks are acceptable when community spread is low (<5 %).
- Indoor Air Quality
- install HEPA filters in homes and offices; aim for 5-6 air changes per hour.
- Keep windows open at least 15 minutes twice daily in winter to reduce aerosol concentration.
- Physical Distancing & Cohorting
- Maintain 1 meter distance in public transport during peak weeks (mid‑November to early January).
- Schools and workplaces should cohort students/employees by class or shift to limit outbreak size.
- Flu‑Like Symptom Self‑Monitoring
- Use the AHS Symptom Tracker app to log temperature, cough, and fatigue.
- If fever ≥ 38 °C persists > 48 hours, schedule a telehealth visit.
Real‑Time Update Tools for Albertans
- AHS Respiratory Surveillance Dashboard: Interactive map with live case data, hospital capacity, and viral trend graphs.
- Alberta Public Health mobile App: Push alerts for local outbreak spikes,vaccination clinic openings,and school absenteeism reports.
- fluwatch Alberta: Weekly flu activity reports, downloadable CSV for custom analysis.
- COVID‑19 Tracker (AHS): Variant‑specific prevalence, testing site wait times, and eligibility for monoclonal antibody therapy.
- RSV Alert System (Northern Alberta Health region): Email notifications to pediatric clinics when RSV positivity exceeds 15 %.
All platforms are free and compatible with iOS, Android, and web browsers.
- Reduced Symptom Duration – Median decrease of 1.5 days for flu when oseltamivir is started ≤ 48 h.
- Lower Hospitalization Risk – Paxlovid cuts COVID‑19‑related hospital admissions by ~70 % in high‑risk adults.
- Decreased Transmission – Antiviral‑treated patients shed virus 30 % less after day 3, translating to community‑level case reductions.
- Cost Savings – Early treatment avoids average inpatient costs of $7,800 per flu‑related admission (Alberta Health finance Report, 2024).
Action step: If you belong to a high‑risk group (age ≥ 65, chronic lung disease, immunocompromised), pre‑register for the AHS “Rapid antiviral Access” programme to receive same‑day medication pickup at yoru nearest pharmacy.
- Background: The Patel family (two children, ages 3 and 9 months) experienced a sudden increase in cough and wheeze during the late‑summer 2024 RSV wave.
- Action: The parents used the AHS RSV Alert email, which prompted a same‑day virtual consult.The pediatrician prescribed ribavirin inhalation and arranged home‑nurse visits.
- Outcome: The infant avoided hospitalization; symptoms resolved in 7 days. the family reported high satisfaction with the integrated telehealth‑pharmacy workflow.
Key takeaway: real‑time alerts combined with telehealth access can prevent unnecessary emergency visits, especially for vulnerable children.
Practical Tips for Schools and Workplaces
- Daily Symptom Screener: Implement a brief electronic questionnaire (fever, cough, loss of taste/smell).
- Vaccination Drives: Schedule on‑site flu and COVID‑19 booster clinics during October‑November; use the AHS Vaccination Locator to coordinate with licensed providers.
- Ventilation Audits: Conduct quarterly HVAC inspections; upgrade filters to MERV 13 or higher.
- Isolation Protocols: Designate a quiet room for symptomatic individuals to wait for pick‑up, equipped with disposable masks and hand sanitizer.
- Interaction Plan: Use the AHS Public Health app to broadcast outbreak updates; include QR codes linking to the latest guidance.
How to Optimize Personal Health During the Season
- Create a “Health Kit” – Include a digital thermometer, saline nasal spray, over‑the‑counter analgesics, and a list of nearest urgent‑care locations.
- Schedule Preventive Appointments – Book flu vaccine and COVID‑19 booster at least 2 weeks before the anticipated peak (mid‑November).
- Track Medication Adherence – Use medication reminder apps (e.g., Medisafe) to ensure completion of antiviral courses.
- Stay Informed – Subscribe to the AHS weekly briefing email, which summarises current virus activity and public‑health recommendations.
Quick Reference: “what to Do If You Feel Unwell”
- Check temperature – ≥ 38 °C → start symptom log.
- Access AHS Telehealth within 24 h for assessment.
- Get rapid test (flu, COVID‑19, RSV) at a pharmacy or community testing site.
- if positive → follow clinician’s antiviral prescription; isolate for 5 days (COVID‑19) or 24 h after fever resolution (flu/RSV).
- Monitor – use the AHS Symptom Tracker; seek emergency care if breathing difficulty or oxygen saturation < 92 %.
Resource Hub for Albertans
- AHS Respiratory Surveillance dashboard - https://ahs.ca/respiratory‑surveillance
- FluWatch Alberta - https://fluwatch.alberta.ca
- AHS Vaccination Locator - https://ahs.ca/vaccination‑clinics
- Public Health Mobile App - iOS / Android store “AHS Public Health”
- pharmacy Antiviral Access - https://pharmacy‑alberta.ca/antivirals
Staying proactive, vaccinated, and informed empowers Albertans to navigate the respiratory virus season with confidence and minimal disruption.
