Edmonton physicians are issuing an urgent plea for provincial intervention as a severe influenza wave, while having reached its peak, continues to push Alberta's hospital system to the brink. Medical professionals describe a 'medical disaster' unfolding, with patients suffering in overcrowded emergency waiting rooms.
Health Officials Confirm Peak, But Warn of Ongoing Strain
Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vivien Suttorp, provided an update on the respiratory virus season on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She confirmed that a large wave of influenza A H3N2 has now peaked in the province.
While this marks welcome progress, Suttorp cautioned that the season is far from over. 'Hospital admissions may increase slightly as reporting is finalized, but they are not expected to exceed the level seen during the week of December 21,' she stated. 'This does not mean the season is over or that we should let our guard down.' She also noted a concerning increase in the circulation of influenza B.
The data reveals the immense pressure the system has faced. Hospitalizations for respiratory viruses hit a high of 995 patients on December 31. So far this season, Alberta has recorded 13,150 confirmed flu cases, with Calgary reporting 4,576 and Edmonton 3,885.
Doctors Demand a 'Medical State of Emergency'
Frontline doctors are speaking out with stark language, calling for immediate and decisive action. Dr. Raj Sherman, an Edmonton emergency room physician and former MLA, is leading calls for the government to declare a medical state of emergency.
'We have a medical disaster on our hands and that's why we have people suffering and dying in waiting rooms meters from care,' Sherman said. He argues the crisis transcends the flu season and represents a systemic failure, urging the province to establish an apolitical team with full authority to manage the healthcare system. 'This is an issue of public safety... take the politics out of it.'
Sherman, who works in Stony Plain, described a typical scene: on a recent Sunday, 14 of the hospital's 16 emergency room beds were occupied by admitted patients, with more continuing to arrive. He confirmed that after contacting other ER department heads, almost 100% of emergency beds across the region are similarly 'plugged up' by sick and admitted patients.
A System Operating Beyond Capacity
The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) has echoed these grave concerns. Dr. Brian Wirzba, president of the AMA and an Edmonton internal medicine physician, outlined the critical state in a public statement.
He revealed that hospitals have been operating at more than 110 per cent capacity. A key indicator of system distress, the number of patients leaving emergency departments without being seen, has skyrocketed by approximately 77 per cent from 2019 to 2024.
'If conditions are dire enough that doctors are speaking bluntly to the media, we all need to listen,' Wirzba's statement read. 'Our acute care system is not well. The current situation has exceeded normal operating parameters for acute care.'
The consensus among medical leaders is clear: while the peak of one influenza strain may have passed, the underlying hospital capacity crisis in Alberta is severe, sustained, and requires an emergency-level response to prevent further patient harm.
