PEOPLE with cold and flu symptoms have been warned to stay away from nursing homes, following another fatal disease outbreak at a Far Northern aged-care facility.
Three residents have died and 60 others – including 24 staff – have fallen sick from respiratory illness at Mercy Place in Westcourt, since February 14.
It is the second disease outbreak to have killed residents at a nursing home in the region since the start of the year, following the deaths of seven people at Herberton Hospital.
Mercy Place is currently in lockdown, with manager Mercy Health activating control measures to protect residents, families and staff.
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The aged-care provider’s Queensland manager Anita Ghose said most residents and staff had been swabbed for common viruses, with a significant proportion testing positive for influenza B.
She said the nursing home was working closely with Queensland Health to control the outbreak.
“This includes strict infection control measures, prophylactic medication, the deployment of a specialist response team of senior clinicians to Cairns from Victoria, additional clinical staffing resources in the home, close consultation with local general practitioners and medical services, cessation of all communal activities, additional cleaning of communal areas, and the limiting of all non-essential visits to the home,’’ Ms Ghose said.
She said most residents and staff had recovered well, however Mercy Health would maintain its strict infection control procedures for eight days until there were no further cases.
“The health and wellbeing of our residents and staff remains our highest priority at all times,’’ she said.