Alberta past peak of flu surge, hospitalizations begin to decline: Chief Medical Officer

January 13, 2026

RED FM News Desk

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says the province has passed the peak of a recent surge in respiratory illnesses, with hospitalization rates now beginning to fall.

Dr. Vivien Suttorp made the announcement Tuesday in Calgary, noting that Alberta experienced an unusually severe wave of influenza A (H3N2) toward the end of the year.

“This season, Alberta experienced an exceptionally large wave of influenza-A; H3N2,” Suttorp said. “Influenza activity rose steeply through December and placed significant pressure on emergency departments, congregate care settings, and health-care providers across the province.”

The surge led to thousands of confirmed cases, but current data suggests the situation is improving. As of Tuesday, Suttorp said there are 706 patients hospitalized with respiratory illnesses across Alberta. Of those, 513 are being treated for influenza, 118 for COVID-19, and 85 for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Suttorp added that hospitalizations are not expected to surpass the levels recorded during the week of Dec. 21, 2025, signaling that the province has moved beyond the height of the seasonal illness wave.