Primary Care Alberta Clinical Updates - August 13, 2026

Lower the risk of West Nile virus this summer

While the risk of West Nile virus remains low in Alberta, some mosquitoes can carry the virus. Infection can cause flu-like symptoms, and in rare cases, neurological illness, particularly in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. Consider West Nile virus in patients presenting with compatible febrile or neurological illness during mosquito season.

The following prevention tips can be shared with patients:
  • Wear long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and a hat when outdoors.
  • Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.  
  • Use a Health Canada-approved insect repellent with DEET and follow label instructions.
For young children, follow age-specific repellent recommendations. Do not use DEET on babies under six months — instead, use mosquito netting and avoid peak insect activity. Use insect repellent once daily for children aged six months to two years, and up to three times daily for children over age two.

Learn more at Personal Insect repellents - Canada.ca and Fightthebite.info.

Lab bulletins:
 
Provincial:
Calgary and area:

Lab bulletin (Edmonton suburban hospitals): Changes to sample transport for ammonia testing

Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation.

Lab bulletin (Edmonton suburban hospitals): Changes to sample transport for ammonia testing

Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation.

Lab bulletin (Edmonton suburban hospitals): Changes to sample transport for ammonia testing

Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation.

Lab bulletin (Edmonton suburban hospitals): Changes to sample transport for ammonia testing

Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation.
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