Elderly home flu outbreaks

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/090826/html/090826en05010.htm

August 26, 2009
21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak
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Centre for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an influenza-like illness outbreak in a Tsuen Wan elderly home, affecting 21 residents.

The two men and 19 women, aged 59 to 103, came down with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough and sore throat from August 15. Of them, 11 sought medical treatment from private doctors or government out-patient clinics while 10 were stable in hospitals.

Nine patients were tested positive for Influenza A, but negative for human swine flu.

The centre has visited the institution and provided health advice. Tamiflu has been given to the staff and the patients' close contacts as preventive medication. The elderly home staff and residents are under medical surveillance.

The Department of Health meanwhile reports 333 newly confirmed cases of human swine flu today - 176 males and 157 females, aged from five months to 93 years.

This brings the total number of such cases to 10,089.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/090827/html/090827en05011.htm


Traditional ChineseSimplified ChineseText onlyPDARSS
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August 27, 2009
Surveillance
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Elderly home resident seriously ill with flu
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Centre for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an influenza-A outbreak in a Kwun Tong elderly home affecting 22 residents. Eight residents required hospitalisation. One is serious and the others are stable.



The eight men and 14 women, aged 64 to 99, have come down with a fever, cough runny nose and sore throat since August 12. Ten tested positive for influenza-A but negative to human swine flu.



The centre has provided health advice to the home's staff. Tamiflu has been given to them and the patients' close contacts. The institution is under medical surveillance.

 

[alert]

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

These two articles are NOT about the same outbreak, despite the similarities in case counts. The different age ranges (the first article says 59 to 103, the second 64 to 99), and most importantly, differnt locations (Tsuen Wan as opposed to Kwun Tong) give that away.

I think the etiological agent in both homes is likely H3 seasonal flu, as Pandemic H1N1 has been ruled out, and that is the only other flu circulating in Hong Kong.

 

[alert]

Re: Elderly home flu outbreaks

Nice catch on the thread title change. I was about to PM you to tell you that.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

Re: 21 ill in elderly home flu outbreak

........ is likely H3 seasonal flu, as Pandemic H1N1 has been ruled out, and that is the only other flu circulating in Hong Kong.

Given that so many swine flu tests return false negatives, I'd not rule it out.

.