Latest news with #southernAlberta
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Warm, sunny days ahead, but by Wednesday, we are looking at some soaking rain
Enjoy the weather this weekend but be cautious and know the fire bans. The fire danger risk for most of central and southern Alberta is very high or extreme.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Small southern Alberta health centres have lower ER wait times, study suggests
A new report shows wait times at Alberta ERs aren't improving, but waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. A new report shows wait times at Alberta emergency rooms aren't improving. But the study also shows waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. Alberta patients spent a median time of three hours and 48 minutes in total per visit last year. The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) found the median length of stay, from arrival to discharge or admission, has increased by 54 minutes in Alberta over the past five years. Edmonton had the highest median time at nearly six hours, and Calgary comes in at just under five hours. ER doctors say these numbers don't tell the whole story. 'For the really sick patients, that's the one that we should all be worried about—the sick patients that need to be admitted to hospital, they're spending much longer in our emergency departments, like talking days and all of that,' said Dr. Paul Parks, Medicine Hat emergency physician. 'All of those kinds of links and increasing numbers compound to affecting Albertans and affecting sick people coming in—we can't get the new sick people in, in a safe and timely manner.' A new report shows wait times at Alberta ERs aren't improving, but waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. A new report shows wait times at Alberta ERs aren't improving, but waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. At Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, the study found patients waited a median time of one hour and 54 minutes before seeing a doctor and a total of four hours per visit. In Medicine Hat, the wait time to see a doctor is one hour and 48 minutes, with a total visit time of three hours and 54 minutes. The study found emergency wait times are considerably lower in many small community health centres in southern Alberta. They are as low as 30 minutes to see a doctor in Bow Island, Crowsnest Pass and Fort Macleod. MEI submitted freedom of information requests to each province seeking information on wait times. Data for Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia was not available. The full MEI publication can be accessed online. A new report shows wait times at Alberta ERs aren't improving, but waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. A new report shows wait times at Alberta ERs aren't improving, but waits in southern Alberta ERs are lower on average than in Calgary and Edmonton. The report puts Alberta ahead of most other provinces with available information. But it also says patients should expect better still. 'They're still faced with wait times that are abnormal in many developed countries, and it remains important to understand that, even within the province, wait times can vary tremendously,' said Krystle Wittevrongel, director of research at the MEI. A spokesperson for the province's Ministry of Hospital and Surgical Health Services provided CTV News with a statement: 'Alberta's government remains committed to ensuring all Albertans have timely access to health care. As the MEI notes in its release, 'Despite the fact that Alberta performs better than most Canadian provinces, patients shouldn't be satisfied.' We agree—emergency department stays are still too long,' the province said. 'We're taking action to reduce wait times by adding hospital beds and expanding assisted-living capacity for patients waiting to transition to more appropriate care settings. We're also increasing the number of family physicians and investing in new urgent care centres across the province to ensure patients have alternatives when emergency care isn't required.' With files from Tyson Fedor
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
One more unsettled day before a return to highs in the mid-20s
Light rain fell overnight across Calgary early Tuesday with a chance of more light and scattered showers throughout the day. Tuesday will turn out to be very similar to Monday in terms of temperature and conditions across southern Alberta, but there is enough atmospheric instability throughout the rest of the province that some areas may see non-severe thunderstorms develop. Light smoke is possible in Calgary and southern Alberta on Tuesday, similar to Monday, as north winds pick up particulate from source fires in the north-central regions and carry it south and east. One more unsettled day before a return to highs in the mid-20s The upper pattern will start to shift late Tuesday, introducing warmer air from the west and Wednesday will kick off a more uniform, gradual and persistent warmer trend across Alberta. Tuesday will be the coolest day for at least the next week in many communities across the region with daytime highs forecast to sit slightly below seasonal. One more unsettled day before a return to highs in the mid-20s More sunshine is expected by the end of the week in Calgary and southern Alberta with highs forecast to reach the mid 20s and by early next week, some communities could see temperatures more than 10 degrees warmer than average. In early June Calgary typically sees highs of 19 C and lows around 5 C.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Southern Alberta's 472 confirmed measles cases 'tip of the iceberg,' health official says
Social Sharing As southern Alberta battles its worst measles outbreak in decades, some doctors are warning the virus is more rampant than the case counts show and they're now struggling to keep up with demand. As of midday Wednesday, 628 cases had been confirmed in Alberta since the outbreaks began in March. The last time the province reported more cases was 1987, when 690 cases were confirmed. "Unfortunately I think, for at least parts of the province, this is no longer controllable," said Craig Jenne, a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary. The vast majority of this year's cases — 472 cases as of Wednesday — are in the south zone. And the Taber Health Centre emergency department is dealing with high volumes of measles patients, according Dr. Eric Leishman, a family physician working there. "Almost every single patient that I have swabbed in the ER for suspected measles has tested positive," he said in an email. "For many of the measles patients we see in the ER, we are often told that they have multiple family members who have also had measles recently. So the number of reported official cases is only a fraction of actual cases that are out there." 'All hands on deck' A standing measles exposure advisory is now in effect for the entire zone due to widespread risk in southern Alberta. "Obviously, we are quite concerned … about those numbers, the number of hospitalizations, and how many more weeks [and] months we may be in this," said Dr. Vivien Suttorp, the lead medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services in the south zone "It's all hands on deck." According to Suttorp, teams from across the health system are working together to rein in the outbreaks. Hospitals, including the Taber facility, are equipped with negative pressure rooms to prevent spread of the airborne virus. Plans have also been made for stand-alone assessment and treatment centres, and those will be opened based on need. As well, teams are also testing and treating people in their homes to prevent onward transmission, she said. Confirmed case counts represent the "tip of the iceberg," according to Suttorp, and they're increasing rapidly. "Not everybody seeks medical care. Not everybody needs additional medical assessment," she said. "So we know that the numbers are larger than what we are seeing. The other piece is that it is spreading across southern Alberta in quite a short time period." She noted broader community transmission — where sporadic cases with no known source are identified — has been increasing over the last 10 days. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation (resulting in deafness, seizures or brain damage), premature delivery and even death. The Alberta government website states that between one and three of every 1,000 people infected will die. "It is extremely frustrating that our ER patient volumes are becoming nearly unmanageable due to an infectious disease that is preventable with routine immunization," said Leishman. Provincial data shows the vast majority of cases are among the unimmunized. "Many of our physicians are experiencing burnout and having difficulty with the increased volume of ER patients," he said. Another physician shared similar concerns about patient volumes, noting Taber is a small community with limited health-care workers, and nurses are also being asked to work more shifts. The province has identified the Municipal District of Taber, the County of Lethbridge and the County of Forty Mile as key hotspots in southern Alberta. According to provincial data, 55.8 per cent of two-year-olds in the south zone were fully vaccinated with two doses of the measles vaccine in 2024. The M.D. of Taber had the lowest rate at 28.7 per cent. That's far below the 95 per cent overall vaccination rate infectious disease experts say is needed for population level protection. Leishman calls the immunization rates in his community, "shockingly low." Provincial data shows a total of 44 Albertans had been hospitalized due to measles as of May 17. No deaths have been reported. "We have seen some bad outcomes, particularly in younger children and infants," said Leishman. "We have had several children who have required hospital admission, and even intubation due to respiratory distress." Some of the sickest children, from both the south and central zones, have been sent to Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary for treatment in recent weeks. "There are many, many, many people across the province — but also in southern Alberta — that are at risk of being exposed and getting disease," said Suttorp. "It is important that families are aware of the serious complications and to seek medical attention early rather than late." Babies as young as six months old, who are living in the south, central and north zones, are being offered an early, and extra, vaccine dose. And Suttorp said AHS is working to ensure there are always immunization appointments available in rural areas No end in sight With the kind of rapid growth Alberta is experiencing combined with pockets of very low vaccination rates, experts say the outbreaks could last months. "This is in the community, and until we significantly change the playing field, the virus is going to continue to spread," said Jenne, who is also the deputy director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. "The only thing that brings measles back under control is administration of vaccination, and that takes time and it takes public support and buy-in to do that." The Alberta government announced new steps, including an ad campaign, increased vaccine clinic access and a new measles hotline, earlier this month. "I really haven't seen a lot of the advertising campaign," said Jenne. "Despite the critical importance of getting vaccines out there, I'm not seeing the same urgency, and that remains a concern." Friends of Medicare is calling for "urgent action" from the government of Alberta, including more frequent updates from government and health officials. "It's clear the previously announced public campaign and steps for increased access to immunization in the central and south zones have not been enough to stop the spread in Alberta," executive director Chris Gallaway, said in news release on Monday. An official with the new Primary and Preventative Health Services Ministry told CBC News the government is taking the outbreak seriously and "continues to monitor the situation closely, particularly in areas with low immunization rates, such as the south zone." The province said it is committed to promoting immunization, noting that 3,895 vaccinations have been administered in the south zone since mid-March — more than double the number given out during the same period last year. According to the province, health officials have been on the ground working with the hardest hit communities, and the ad campaign will be translated into more than 14 languages "While this is encouraging, more needs to be done to increase immunization rates in various communities where cultural beliefs play a role in lower vaccination rates currently," the statement said. "Immunization remains our strongest defence, and we urge all Albertans to ensure their immunizations vaccinations are up to date," the statement said. The health official said people who cannot be vaccinated (including young infants, pregnant Albertans and those with specific immunocompromising conditions) can reduce their risk by socializing only with people who are immunized and avoiding indoor gatherings. Measles symptoms include: High fever. Cough. Runny nose. Red eyes. Blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts. In darker skin colours, it may appear purple or darker than surrounding skin. Alberta Health provides detailed information on measles case counts, symptoms and free immunizations here. And a measles hotline is available for people with questions about symptoms, immunization records or to book an appointment: 1-844-944-3434. AHS is advising anyone with measles symptoms to stay home and call the hotline before visiting any hospital, medical clinic or pharmacy.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire risk rising as temperatures climb in southern Alberta
The wildfire risk is rising in southern Alberta, with temperatures expected to climb toward the 30 C mark over the next two days. In the Calgary Forest Area, the fire risk has been raised to high, according to Alberta Wildfire. 'Extremely warm temperatures combined with very strong winds will continue to increase the wildfire danger over the coming days,' Alberta Wildfire said in an update Wednesday. 'Although cooler temperatures and the possibility of rain are in the forecast for the coming weekend, we are anticipating several days of high to very high wildfire danger.' Temperatures are expected to continue to climb on Wednesday and Thursday. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued heat warnings for the majority of Alberta, including Calgary and Edmonton. 'Daytime temperatures in the high 20s today will increase to reach 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Overnight lows will be near 14 degrees Celsius,' ECCC said. 'Temperatures will begin to cool on Thursday as a cold front moves eastward across the province.' As of Wednesday morning, there were no active wildfires in the CFA. To date, the CFA has experienced 21 wildfires this year that have burned 32.82 hectares of land. The Calgary Forest Area includes a large area in southwestern Alberta, stretching from areas west of Carstairs, Cochrane and Calgary, and down south past Blairmore. Calgary Forest Area A map of the Calgary Forest Area. (Source: Alberta Wildfire) In Banff National Park, which is not included in the forest area, the fire danger is considered moderate, according to a bulletin posted by Parks Canada on Tuesday. 'Under moderate fire danger conditions, fires generally spread along the surface of the ground with the occasional tree or clump of trees igniting. Ground crews with conventional firefighting equipment can usually contain these fires,' Parks Canada says on its website. Any suspicious smoke or illegal campfires in the national park can be reported to Banff dispatch at (403)762-1470. Throughout Alberta's forest areas, there were 40 active wildfires on Wednesday, with 18 considered under control, 20 out of control and two being held.
