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Stomach flu outbreak hits Canterbury Inn retirement home
By Cheryll A. Borgaard / The Daily News | Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:59 pm
<DL class=moz-border id=story-font-size done22="97" done21="97" done13="97" done12="97" done11="97" done8="97" done5="97" done30="0" done29="0"><DT>The public is asked to postpone visits to a Longview retirement home after an outbreak of gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu.</DT></DL>The Cowlitz County Health Department has posted signs at the Canterbury Inn on Third Avenue, recommending no visitors after receiving reports Monday of the outbreak.
So far, 14 residents and 15 staff members have come down with the malady, Dr. Jennifer Vines, Cowlitz County Health Department Deputy Health Officer, said Tuesday. Canterbury Inn has 135 residents and 84 staff. Two other nearby retirement facilities - Canterbury Gardens and Canterbury Park - are not affected by the outbreak, Vines said.
A communicable disease nurse and an environmental control specialist visited the Canterbury Inn Monday, Vines said. The health department will be checking daily to monitor any new cases.
Symptoms of the highly contagious illness include a low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Most people recover in 24 to 72 hours, though it may take longer for the elderly.
"There's always a greater concern with the older, fragile patients," but no Canterbury residents have been hospitalized from the flu, Vines said.
Residents are taking meals in their rooms and have been asked to limit social contact with each other. Also, nonessential events, such as hair appointments, have been canceled.
"We're trying not to transport the virus in or out to keep it from affecting other facilities, like day cares or other retirement homes," Vines said.
Canterbury Inn residents are doing well with the limits on activities, Diane Craft, public relations at Canterbury said Tuesday.
"They're getting room service, so they can stay in their jammies if they want," she said. "They're generally very supportive of what we're doing because they certainly don't want any of this to spread."
Other containment measures include separating sick residents and staff from well ones, paying attention to food preparation, asking any infected staff to wait 48 to 72 hours before returning to work, and emphasizing thorough hand-washing.
Vines praised the efforts of the Canterbury staff to contain the outbreak.
"They really jumped in and started doing what needed to be done."
Craft said the retirement home is following all the guidelines the health department has recommended. Family members of the residents have been notified about the temporary restraint on visitors, she said.
"Family members are welcome to call 24/7 to see how their loved one is doing, even at night," she said. "Almost every resident has a phone in their room, so they're not cut off from the world."
There was some concern about Saturday's upcoming Soup-Off, a fundraiser for Longview StageWorks that is to be held at the Canterbury Park across the street from Canterbury Inn.
"We've asked all the residents of that building not to come to visit friends," Craft said.
Vines said with aggressive control measures, the outbreak could be over within a few days, though "these outbreaks can be very hard to get a handle on."
By Cheryll A. Borgaard / The Daily News | Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:59 pm
<DL class=moz-border id=story-font-size done22="97" done21="97" done13="97" done12="97" done11="97" done8="97" done5="97" done30="0" done29="0"><DT>The public is asked to postpone visits to a Longview retirement home after an outbreak of gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu.</DT></DL>The Cowlitz County Health Department has posted signs at the Canterbury Inn on Third Avenue, recommending no visitors after receiving reports Monday of the outbreak.
So far, 14 residents and 15 staff members have come down with the malady, Dr. Jennifer Vines, Cowlitz County Health Department Deputy Health Officer, said Tuesday. Canterbury Inn has 135 residents and 84 staff. Two other nearby retirement facilities - Canterbury Gardens and Canterbury Park - are not affected by the outbreak, Vines said.
A communicable disease nurse and an environmental control specialist visited the Canterbury Inn Monday, Vines said. The health department will be checking daily to monitor any new cases.
Symptoms of the highly contagious illness include a low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Most people recover in 24 to 72 hours, though it may take longer for the elderly.
"There's always a greater concern with the older, fragile patients," but no Canterbury residents have been hospitalized from the flu, Vines said.
Residents are taking meals in their rooms and have been asked to limit social contact with each other. Also, nonessential events, such as hair appointments, have been canceled.
"We're trying not to transport the virus in or out to keep it from affecting other facilities, like day cares or other retirement homes," Vines said.
Canterbury Inn residents are doing well with the limits on activities, Diane Craft, public relations at Canterbury said Tuesday.
"They're getting room service, so they can stay in their jammies if they want," she said. "They're generally very supportive of what we're doing because they certainly don't want any of this to spread."
Other containment measures include separating sick residents and staff from well ones, paying attention to food preparation, asking any infected staff to wait 48 to 72 hours before returning to work, and emphasizing thorough hand-washing.
Vines praised the efforts of the Canterbury staff to contain the outbreak.
"They really jumped in and started doing what needed to be done."
Craft said the retirement home is following all the guidelines the health department has recommended. Family members of the residents have been notified about the temporary restraint on visitors, she said.
"Family members are welcome to call 24/7 to see how their loved one is doing, even at night," she said. "Almost every resident has a phone in their room, so they're not cut off from the world."
There was some concern about Saturday's upcoming Soup-Off, a fundraiser for Longview StageWorks that is to be held at the Canterbury Park across the street from Canterbury Inn.
"We've asked all the residents of that building not to come to visit friends," Craft said.
Vines said with aggressive control measures, the outbreak could be over within a few days, though "these outbreaks can be very hard to get a handle on."
