Respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital- total 10 deaths

[Ronan Kelly]

Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital


By: ctvbc.ca

Date: Tuesday Apr. 27, 2010 2:53 PM PT


Nine patients have died this month with symptoms of an unidentified respiratory illness at Glengarry Hospital in Victoria, B.C., according the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Since the end of March, a total of 19 elderly patients have come down with respiratory symptoms in the hospital's Chandler Unit, where an outbreak of the Norovirus is also underway.

Lab tests not yet been able to confirm what is causing the respiratory problems, but tests have ruled out influenza A and B and H1N1.

No staff members at the hospital have been affected by the mysterious illness.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100427/bc_respiratory_outbreak_100427/20100427?hub=BritishColumbia

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Nine die after respiratory outbreak at Vancouver Island long-term care home
Canwest News ServiceApril 27, 2010 3:02 Vancouver Sun
VICTORIA - The deaths of nine people at a long-term care facility in Victoria have been linked to a respiratory outbreak.

Residents in one of the units of the care home first began developing respiratory symptoms at the end of March, but they were mild and not easily distinguished from symptoms of Norovirus, a common is a gastrointestinal illness, the Vancouver Island Health Authority said today.

The respiratory outbreak was declared on April 22 after an increase in the number of cases and several deaths occurred.

In total, VIHA says 19 people have fallen ill. Since April 5, nine residents with the respiratory symptoms have passed away.

All of the residents were elderly, and five of them were already receiving palliative care. VIHA is now conducting medical review to see what role the respiratory condition might have played in the deaths.

“We take outbreaks in residential care facilities very seriously because the frail, elderly population is more susceptible to serious complications and even death from illnesses,” Dr. David Forrest, associate medical director of infection preventation at VIHA, said in a news release. “The fact that no staff have been affected by this illness would suggest it is a mild illness in most people that is affecting our frail elderly residents more.”

VIHA says lab tests haven’t yet identified the condition, but influenza A and B and H1N1 have been ruled out. Further testing is underway at the VIHA laboratory as well as at the BC Centre for Disease Control in Vancouver. Results are expected later this week.

Glengarry Hospital has a total of 140 beds. Only the Chandler Unit (70 beds) is affected by the respiratory outbreak.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Nine+after+respiratory+outbreak+Vancouver+Island+long+term+care+home/2957894/story.html

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Oh my. Undiagnosed respiratory deaths in a developed country like Canada is never good. And nine deaths out of 19 cases is a very high CFR.

Have they tested for Legionella?

This one should go straight to ProMED.

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/virus-kills-nine-at-victoria-hospital/article1548787/

Virus kills nine at Victoria hospital
Influenza-like virus has made 19 ill; H1N1 has been ruled out
Share with friends
CloseEmail Please enter a valid e-mail address
Please enter a comma delimited list of valid e-mail addresses
Other ways of sharing:Tweet this on TwitterShare on FacebookAdd to DeliciousSubmit post to Digg.comSeed this post at Newsvine
Print or License
ClosePrint this pageLicense this story
What’s this? By clicking "Like", you can recommend this story and share it with your Facebook friends
Read More… Don’t show this again
. Article Comments Victoria, BC — The Canadian Press
Published on Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2010 6:05PM EDT

Last updated on Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2010 6:08PM EDT


.The Vancouver Island Health Authority says nine residents have died since April 5 at a Victoria hospital where an influenza-like virus has been detected.

Spokeswoman Suzanne Germain says 19 people have become ill after the respiratory illness made the rounds at Glengarry Hospital, which is home to frail and elderly patients, many with pre-existing conditions.

Ms. Germain says lab tests have confirmed that the illness is not H1N1, but further tests are being conducted to try and find out what kind of virus is involved.

She says the hospital has limited contact between residents by isolating them to their rooms, where meals are being served after the three dining rooms were closed.

Ms. Germain says the hospital has also had Norwalk virus circulating since the beginning of April.

Hospital staff and visitors are required to wear gowns and masks to prevent the spread of the virus, which Ms. Germain says was likely introduced from the outside.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Respiratory Outbreak at Glengarry HospitalApril 27, 2010

VICTORIA ? The Chandler Unit at Glengarry Hospital in Victoria is experiencing a respiratory outbreak which has affected a total of 19 residents. The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) is asking family and friends to consider not visiting the facility at this time, especially if they are sick. If they do visit, they will be asked to clean their hands on entering the facility and affected unit as well as follow other precautions as directed by staff.

The Chandler Unit at Glengarry has also been experiencing a Norovirus outbreak since April 6. Some patients on the unit began developing respiratory symptoms at the end of March, but these were often mild and not readily distinguished from the Norovirus symptoms in this group of elderly and often cognitively impaired residents. The respiratory outbreak was declared on April 22 after an increase in the number of cases and several deaths occurred.

Since April 5, nine residents with the respiratory symptoms have passed away. Each of these residents was elderly and frail with multiple medical challenges. Five of these residents were already receiving palliative care. Medical reviews are underway on all cases to determine what role the respiratory condition may have played ? if any ? in the deaths.

?We take outbreaks in residential care facilities very seriously because the frail, elderly population is more susceptible to serious complications and even death from illnesses,? said Dr. David Forrest, Associate Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control with VIHA. ?The fact that no staff have been affected by this illness would suggest it is a mild illness in most people that is affecting our frail elderly residents more.?

Lab tests have not yet confirmed the organism involved in the respiratory condition, but influenza A and B and H1N1 have been ruled out. Further testing is underway at the VIHA laboratory as well as at the BC Centre for Disease Control in Vancouver. Results are expected later this week.

?While the cause of the illness is not yet known, residential care facilities reflect the community. There are many viruses circulating in the community this time of year, including rhino- and noro-viruses. When they are introduced into the residential care setting they can have a significant impact on residents and staff,? said Dr. Forrest. ?We would like to remind people not to visit when they are not feeling well. In addition, since many infections such as influenza can be prevented by vaccination, immunization is important to prevent the development of such outbreaks and deaths.?

VIHA has notified family members of this latest outbreak. Heightened infection control measures are in place to prevent its spread.

These measures include:

Limiting contact between residents (residents are isolated to their rooms)
Closing all dining rooms (meals are being served to residents in their rooms)
Limiting visitors to one family member per resident.
Requiring visitors to wear protective equipment and to follow strict hand hygiene practices (e.g. mask, gown and gloves when visiting someone with symptoms).
Restricting visitors to loved one?s room only; no visits in common areas.
Cancelling special events and restricting movement for residents who smoke.
Requiring staff to wear protective equipment and to follow strict infection control practices (e.g. mask with visor, gown, gloves).
Restricting staff who have been working on the Chandler Unit from working in other residential care sites in back-to-back shifts.
Adding housekeeping staff and enhancing housekeeping with additional infection control cleaning protocols (such as enhanced cleaning of frequent touch areas, changing of privacy curtains).
Maintaining a previous closure to new admissions that was put in place April 6 due a Norovirus outbreak.
Residents who contract respiratory symptoms are being carefully monitored and treated as appropriate, depending on their care plan, their wishes, or the wishes of their family. Where requested and appropriate, a resident may be transferred to hospital for additional care such as intravenous antibiotic care.

Glengarry has a total of 140 beds. Only the Chandler Unit (70 beds) is affected by the respiratory outbreak.

http://www.viha.ca/about_viha/news/news_releases/glengarry_resp_outbreak.htm

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=13389

NINE RESIDENTS DIE AT GLENGARRY HOSPITAL AFTER RESPIRATORY OUTBREAK
Apr 27, 2010

THE VANCOUVER ISLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY SAYS NINE PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE APRIL 5TH AT THE GLENGARRY HOSPITAL AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE LINK TO A RECENT RESPIRATORY OUTBREAK.

VIHA SPOKESPERSON SHANNON MARSHALL SAYS THEY DECLARED THE OUTBREAK ON APRIL 22ND AND TESTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE B-C CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL TO CONFIRM WHAT KIND OF ILLNESS THIS IS.

"We do have medical reviews under way to determine what if any role this respiratory condition may have played in the deaths of those who have died, keeping in mind that this a frail elderly population, those that have died have been between the ages of 81 and 97 years old so sadly this kind of an illness would have a fairly serious impact on frail elderly residents."

INFLUENZA A AND B, AND H1N1 HAVE BEEN RULED OUT AND VIHA SAYS THEY HAVE HEIGHTENED INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES TO PREVENT A FURTHER SPREAD.

VIHA IS ASKING FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO CONSIDER NOT VISITING AT THIS TIME ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE SICK.

- ANITA BATHE

[sharon sanders]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Sent to ProMed.

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Sent to ProMed.

Thank you Sharon, as always.

[Laidback Al]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Glengarry Hospital
1780 Fairfield Rd
Victoria, BC, V8S 1G7

140 patients in two units - Fairfield and Chandler

http://www.gvef.org/statistical_profile.htm

Regional map

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.gvef.org/statistical_profile.htm

STATISTICAL PROFILE

The Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundaton directly supports hundreds of elderly people living in Victoria's Aberdeen, Glengarry, Mt. Tolmie, Priory and Oak Bay Lodge care facilities. In addition, we support elderly residents in our community and their families through programs such as the West Shore Adult Day Centre, the Oak Bay Lodge Adult Day Centre, the Mobile Adult Day Program, the Community Bathing Program and the programs and resources offered at the Hillside Seniors Health Centre.

Number of residents in our care facilities
711

Age Range
46-105 years

Residents' average age
80 years

Number of residents over 100 years old
14

Number of residents under age 80
166 (21%)

Residents with some form of dementia
75%

Oak Bay Lodge Independent Living Unit
(57% female; Average age 87)
37 tenants

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/49186--nine-seniors-die-from-respiratory-virus-at-victoria-care-home

Nine seniors die from respiratory virus at Victoria care home
Dave White Apr 27, 2010 16:34:53 PM
Be the first to Comment 0 Recommendation(s) VICTORIA (NEWS1130) - Nine seniors have died at a Victoria care home this month, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) says the cause could be an unknown respiratory virus.

Last week an outbreak of an unknown respiratory virus was discovered at the Glengarry Hospital. But VIHA's Suzanne Germain is waiting for test results to find out whether the virus is behind the deaths. "We're taking this very seriously, we have our infection control practitioners all over this, putting protection processes in place."

Germain says all the victims were elderly, many in palliative care. In all, 20 people have fallen ill since the beginning of March, when symptoms started to appear.

[tetano]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

A mysterious respiratory illness has killed nine and infected 11 more after sweeping through the mostly elderly, frail residents in a unit of a Victoria extended-care facility.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority declared an outbreak at Glengarry Hospital last Thursday of the unspecified respiratory infection.

Visitors to the facility have been advised to stay away or be prepared to adopt special infection-control procedures, like wearing gowns and masks.

Dr. David Forrest, associate medical director of infection prevention and control for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said five people are still sick and six have recovered.

They range in age from 81 to 97. Five of the fatalities were palliative care patients.

"We're very concerned because of the high number of deaths, recognizing this is a very frail population, very susceptible to infections," said Forrest.

He said tests are being conducted internally and at the BC Centre for Disease Control to determine the cause of the illness.

"We don't know what this is yet."

.....

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Mysterious+respiratory+illness+kills+nine/2959864/story.html

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/92314719.html

Victoria News
Respiratory outbreak causes nine deaths in Victoria


Text By Roszan Holmen - Victoria News


Published: April 28, 2010 8:00 AM
Updated: April 28, 2010 8:19 AM

1 Comment Nine elderly patients sharing a unit at the Glengarry Hospital have died of respiratory symptoms, since April 9

All were frail, with multiple medical challenges, according to the Vancouver Island Health Authority. Five were receiving palliative care.

VIHA declared a respiratory outbreak April 22, but lab tests have yet to determine the organism responsible.

So far, 19 (should maybe be 20 = 9+6+5?) patients have been infected at the residential care facility. Six have recovered from the infection and five remain ill.

?These cases have started with very non-specific and mild symptoms,? said David Forrest, VIHA?s associate medical director of infection prevention and control. Many of the residents are cognitively impaired, said Forrest, ?which means they?re not able to describe their symptoms or complain.?

Symptoms first started appearing in late March, but were not easily distinguished from another outbreak in the same unit. Thirty-nine patients in the 70-unit Chandler Unit have suffered from a Norovirus outbreak since April 6.

VIHA has taken several measures to control the infections? spread.

Residents must eat in their rooms rather than in the dining halls. Each resident can only receive visits from one family member who must wear mask, gown and gloves.

Dale Perkins of the South Island Health Coalition called the outbreak the latest in a ticking time bomb.

?We?ve been on VIHA?s case about cleanliness for over a year,? said Perkins. Contracting out housecleaning services to private corporations leads to cutting corners, he said.

Shannon Marshall, VIHA spokesperson, denied the link between the outbreak and the quality of service by Compass Group Canada and cleaning subsidiary, Crothall Services Group.

?This is not a housekeeping issue,? she said, adding illnesses are brought in from the outside and spread from patient to patient very easily.

Cleaning standards at the Glengarry had already been enhanced after the Norovirus outbreak earlier in the month.

It?s important to recognize that patients in a residential care facility are in the end-stages of their lives, said Forrest.

?For many of them and their families, it?s important that they die in a comfortable surrounding as opposed to, for example, being transferred for aggressive interventions and dying in a hospital setting.?

Forrest said that to his knowledge, none of the nine patients who died were transferred to acute care for treatment, according to family wishes.

rholmen@vicnews.com

[alert]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/from+respiratory+illness+Victoria+care+facility/2960624/story.html

9 die from respiratory illness at Victoria care facility
Mysterious outbreak strikes elderly, frail residents at Glengarry Hospital
By Richard Watts, Times ColonistApril 28, 2010 6:46 AM StoryPhotos ( 1 )
The Vancouver Island Health Authority declared an outbreak of the unspecified respiratory infection at Glengarry Hospital last Thursday.Photograph by: Darren Stone, Times ColonistA mysterious respiratory illness has killed nine people and infected 11 more after sweeping through the mostly elderly, frail residents in a unit of a Victoria extended-care facility.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority declared an outbreak of the unspecified respiratory infection at Glengarry Hospital last Thursday. Visitors to the Fairfield Road facility have been advised to stay away or be prepared to adopt special infection-control procedures, like gowning up and putting on masks.

Dr. David Forrest, associate medical director of infection prevention and control for the health authority, said five people are still sick and six have recovered. They range in age from 81 to 97. Five of those who died were palliative-care patients.

?We?re very concerned because of the high number of deaths, recognizing this is a very frail population, very susceptible to infections,? said Forrest.

He said tests are being conducted internally and at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control to determine the cause of the illness. ?We don?t know what this is yet.?

So far, influenza A, B and H1N1 have been ruled out. Nor does the pattern of the outbreak resemble a fungal infection, said Forrest, adding it could be a combination of illnesses, such as a virus followed by a bacterial infection.

?It could be an initial viral, cold-like syndrome which is complicated by a bacterial infection like pneumonia,? said Forrest.

Symptoms of the illness in its initial stages resemble those for a common cold ? runny nose, feeling unwell, cough, chest congestion and fever.

Forrest said so far, the disease has been restricted to the 70-bed Chandler Unit of Glengarry Hospital, which has a total of 140 beds. All residents of the hospital are in shared accommodations, usually four to one room.

Forrest said complicating detection of the new illness was an earlier outbreak, declared April 6, of the gastrointestinal Norovirus that infected 39 residents at Glengarry.

While Norovirus symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea and fever, don?t resemble those for a respiratory illness, the general state of poor health of so many patients likely caused staff to overlook the new illness.

?It didn?t really come to the fore until there was an increase in the number of cases and a cluster of deaths,? said Forrest.

Also, many Glengarry residents are unlikely, or unable, to report any sudden onset of illness symptoms.

So far, none of the staff have fallen ill. It?s believed the illness was introduced to Glengarry from the community.

?By and large, illnesses like this in a long-term care facility are introduced from the outside,? said Forrest. ?Although the outbreaks tend to occur in these confined areas with a population of patients that is very susceptible to infection.?

Families of Glengarry residents have been informed of the outbreak. Family physicians have also been alerted and instructed to use antibiotics where appropriate.

But so far, only one patient has opted to be moved to an acute-care facility. ?[Glengarry] is their home,? said Forrest.

[Laidback Al]

Re: Nine die in respiratory outbreak at B.C. hospital

Active Outbreak List

The Active Outbreak List is updated daily, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. When an outbreak is declared over, the facility is removed from the list. Find out more about active outbreaks here.
Outbreak Information: www.viha.ca/mho/public_health_alerts/active_outbreak_list.htm

As of:28-Apr-2010 @ 11:02 AM PST

<table border="0" cellspacing="15"><tbody><tr> <td style="text-align: left;" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Facility Name</td> <td style="text-align: left;" valign="top">Date Started</td> <td style="text-align: left;" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Agent</td> <td style="text-align: left;" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Status</td> <td style="text-align: left;" valign="top">Notes</td> </tr> <!-- content --> <tr><td valign="top">GLENGARRY HOSPITAL</td><td align="left">22-Apr-2010</td><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Tests Pending</td><td valign="top">Respiratory or Influenza-like illness</td><td align="left">respiratory symptoms on Chandler </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top">GLENGARRY HOSPITAL-CHANDLER, RICHMOND, FAIRFIELD</td><td align="left">6-Apr-2010</td><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Norovirus</td><td valign="top">Gastrointestinal or Norovirus-like illness</td><td align="left">outbreak limited to Chandler A and B</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top">JAMES BAY CARE CENTRE</td><td align="left">31-Mar-2010</td><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Norovirus</td><td valign="top">Gastrointestinal or Norovirus-like illness</td><td align="left">Restrictions are are extended to include the entire facility.</td> </tr><tr><td valign="top">NANAIMO REGIONAL GENERAL HOSPITAL</td><td align="left">29-Mar-2010</td><td align="left" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">Clostridium Difficile</td><td valign="top">Clostridium Difficile</td><td align="left">
</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="4" style="" valign="bottom"> Facility contact information: http://www.viha.ca/finding_care/facilities/ </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="4" style="" valign="bottom"> For more information, please visit: www.viha.ca/mho/public_health_alerts/active_outbreak_list.htm </td></tr></tbody></table>

Posted on this site: http://www.healthspace.ca/Clients/VI...iew&Count=1000