Gastro scare hits aged care home
A GOLD Coast nursing home and hostel are in lockdown after the outbreak of a virus believed to be gastroenteritis -- the same bug blamed for the deaths of 10 elderly people in NSW in June.
Signs on the entrances of the Lady Small Haven nursing home and hostel at Benowa state they are closed to all visitors due to a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak.
Lady Small Haven Aged Care Services aged care director Jeanette Evans yesterday said 23 residents of the nursing home and hostel had been affected by... a viral outbreak.
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Ms Evans said the services, operated by Churches of Christ Care, were waiting for test results to confirm the type of virus.
"The first symptoms of a virus developed in nursing home residents on Friday evening and by Saturday morning we had locked down the home," she said.
"By Monday, two hostel residents started displaying mild symptoms so we moved immediately to close the hostel. No visitors are allowed at either facility."
Ms Evans said the Gold Coast Population Health Unit and the Department of Health and Ageing had been told of the situation and every effort had been made to contact residents' relatives.
"Our staff are doing a fantastic job in ensuring the outbreak is contained and we are hopeful our residents will recover quickly," she said.
The Gold Coast case follows an investigation into the deaths of 10 elderly people at a Blue Mountains nursing home last month, which were thought to be linked to two gastroenteritis outbreaks.
However, NSW Premier Morris Iemma on Sunday said preliminary results indicated not all of the deaths at the Endeavour Nursing Home were caused by the gastro bug.
said it was the first time he had heard of an outbreak during his more than two years at the complex.
"There's a disease in there," he said.
"I don't know how the staff don't get it, the ones that feed them."
The man said he was only made aware of the outbreak through the signs on the nursing home and hostel doors.
"The staff are pretty good but they don't tell you anything," he said.Gold Coast Population Health Unit medical officer Dr Don Staines has urged locals to take precautions to prevent viral gastroenteritis, which was more common in the winter months.
Dr Staines recommended locals frequently and thoroughly wash hands with soap, especially before eating or preparing food and after using toilets or changing nappies.
He said the aged and the very young were more susceptible to viral gastroenteritis, which was also known as norovirus.
The main symptoms were vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, raised temperature, aching limbs and headaches, but Dr Staines said people were still infectious at least 48 hours after these symptoms stopped.
"Please don't visit family or friends in hospital or an aged care facility until at least 48 hours after you're over your illness," he said.
"Anyone with diarrhoea and vomiting for longer than 24 hours should consult their local doctor, but seek medical attention sooner for babies and the elderly, especially if the symptoms are severe."
Source : Goldcoast.com
Signs on the entrances of the Lady Small Haven nursing home and hostel at Benowa state they are closed to all visitors due to a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak.
Lady Small Haven Aged Care Services aged care director Jeanette Evans yesterday said 23 residents of the nursing home and hostel had been affected by... a viral outbreak.
Have your say on the feedback form below
Ms Evans said the services, operated by Churches of Christ Care, were waiting for test results to confirm the type of virus.
"The first symptoms of a virus developed in nursing home residents on Friday evening and by Saturday morning we had locked down the home," she said.
"By Monday, two hostel residents started displaying mild symptoms so we moved immediately to close the hostel. No visitors are allowed at either facility."
Ms Evans said the Gold Coast Population Health Unit and the Department of Health and Ageing had been told of the situation and every effort had been made to contact residents' relatives.
"Our staff are doing a fantastic job in ensuring the outbreak is contained and we are hopeful our residents will recover quickly," she said.
The Gold Coast case follows an investigation into the deaths of 10 elderly people at a Blue Mountains nursing home last month, which were thought to be linked to two gastroenteritis outbreaks.
However, NSW Premier Morris Iemma on Sunday said preliminary results indicated not all of the deaths at the Endeavour Nursing Home were caused by the gastro bug.
said it was the first time he had heard of an outbreak during his more than two years at the complex.
"There's a disease in there," he said.
"I don't know how the staff don't get it, the ones that feed them."
The man said he was only made aware of the outbreak through the signs on the nursing home and hostel doors.
"The staff are pretty good but they don't tell you anything," he said.Gold Coast Population Health Unit medical officer Dr Don Staines has urged locals to take precautions to prevent viral gastroenteritis, which was more common in the winter months.
Dr Staines recommended locals frequently and thoroughly wash hands with soap, especially before eating or preparing food and after using toilets or changing nappies.
He said the aged and the very young were more susceptible to viral gastroenteritis, which was also known as norovirus.
The main symptoms were vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, raised temperature, aching limbs and headaches, but Dr Staines said people were still infectious at least 48 hours after these symptoms stopped.
"Please don't visit family or friends in hospital or an aged care facility until at least 48 hours after you're over your illness," he said.
"Anyone with diarrhoea and vomiting for longer than 24 hours should consult their local doctor, but seek medical attention sooner for babies and the elderly, especially if the symptoms are severe."
Source : Goldcoast.com