As four more H1N1 deaths were confirmed in Alberta, the nation’s top doctor said the virus is rapidly spreading in the West, with death and hospitalization rates three times greater than a week ago.The four deaths — which brings Alberta’s H1N1 toll to 18 — occurred in the Edmonton and Calgary, in the centre of the province and the deep south.The latest deaths come as no surprise, said Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services (AHS).

“Given the amount of influenza in the community, four deaths is not unexpected,” said Predy.

Three of the four latest victims suffered from underlying medical conditions while two of them were elderly, the other two middle-aged, he said.With the virus surging across the country, particularly in the West, Newfoundland and the territories, those deaths are likely a harbinger for more trying times ahead, said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada’s chief public health officer.

“We expect to hear of more illness and deaths in the coming weeks as we go further into the second wave,” he said.

“Anybody that thinks we’ve seen anything but the beginning of this … it’s a bit of wishful thinking.”

Butler-Jones said he expects the virus’ spread to surpass in a few weeks the first wave’s peak recorded last June.Predy said the vaccination in Alberta of at least 400,000 people has “probably prevented up to 1,000 hospitalizations.”But he said even if the most recent fatal flu victims had been inoculated, it would have been too late to save them.Provincial health officials say they’re ready with enough equipment like ventilators to deal with the pandemic, whose victims now comprise 25% of hospital admissions.So far, 439 Albertans have been hospitalized with the virus, which has killed at least 105 Canadians.Yesterday, local AHS officials said Calgary hospitals were extremely busy — due significantly to H1N1 — even as staff was re-deployed to handle vaccination clinics.The province is spending more than $100 million on everything from hospital beds to vaccine to fight H1N1.