Flu outbreak alert at nursing homes
One man died and eight people were hospitalised after a fl u outbreak at Geraldton Nursing Home at the weekend.
A spokesman for Domain Principal Group, which operates the facility, said eight nursing home residents had contracted infl uenza and were expected to be discharged in days.
He said one elderly resident died on Saturday at the nursing home, from underlying medical complications.
The eight residents were admitted to Geraldton Regional Hospital as a precaution and all were responding well to treatment.
He said the nursing home had been advised by the Health Department that the virus, H3N2, was a routine fl u strain circulating in the community.
He said it was not avian fl u.
Nursing home staff were taking precautions to control the spread of the virus, including wearing gloves and masks, washing hands regularly and asking visitors to stay home if they were unwell.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and the fl u seems to be contained,” he said.
“All staff are being monitored as well.
“Efforts to contain this virus and strict protocols to protect the health and safety of all residents remain a foremost priority.”
Uniting Church Homes CEO Vaughan Harding said he understood no residents from its Hillcrest aged care facility in Geraldton had the virus.
But he said staff had taken immediate precautionary measures, including visit restrictions and alerting families.
Mr Harding said he was awaiting advice from the Health Department before taking further precautions.
Nazareth House care service manager Marie Oosthuizen said it was “business as usual” at that facility.
GP Network vice-chairman Ian Taylor said the outbreak of the virus, which is potentially life-threatening for the elderly, had caused havoc at Geraldton Nursing Home and Geraldton Regional Hospital.
“It has become a problem for Geraldton Regional Hospital,” he said.
“As you know, they have a shortage of beds.
“It has certainly exposed the inadequacy of the number of beds.”
Dr Taylor said it was uncommon to have a number of people come down with the virus within hours.
“During summer, it’s the last thing you think of,” he said.
“We just now have this little blip of it getting into a section of the community that is very susceptible.
“There’s no reason to panic.”
Dr Taylor said he believed the virus entered the nursing home via Christmas visitors.
He said the virus could be managed but advised people feeling unwell to stay at home or see a doctor if symptoms were severe.
Flu symptoms include high temperature, fl ushing of the face, coughing, fatigue, headache, runny or congested nose, muscle or joint aches and pains, chills and generally feeling unwell.
WA Country Health Service Mid West acting regional director Graham Coleman said hospital systems had stood up well to the sudden infl ux in patients.
He praised the joint work of staff from the hospital, Population Health and St John Ambulance.
State Health Minister Kim Hames did not want to comment on the issue when contacted by The Guardian yesterday.
He said it was an operational issue and referred the matter to the WA Country Health Service.
CAITLYN PATMAN
