Health officials have declared flu outbreaks in two extended care units at Saanich Peninsula Hospital where 18 residents fell ill in recent days.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority said the first resident got sick on the weekend with Influenza A, which causes fever, body aches, a headache, dry cough, and sore or dry throat.
Elderly people are more vulnerable to the flu, so the hospital moved quickly to prevent its spread, said spokeswoman Sarah Plank said Tuesday.
“We’re trying to hit it heavy and hard,” she said. “We’ve found from past experience that if we take a strong, proactive approach we can shorten the duration of an outbreak.”
People with symptoms are confined to their rooms, and the communal dining areas have been closed to all 143 residents, whether they are sick or not.
Staff member and visitors must wear a gown, gloves and mask when visiting a resident with flu symptoms.
The hospital also stepped up housekeeping by staff who are specifically assigned to the units so they do not carry the virus to other floors.
Eleven residents are infected on one unit, and seven on the other.
“We have an outbreak management protocol that we put in place to make sure we do everything we can to prevent it from spreading,” Plank said.
Under that protocol, the hospital also sent home 11 staff members who had not received the flu vaccine.
Plank said the infected residents are being treated with Tamiflu, and those who do not yet have symptoms are being offered the drug as a preventative measure.
People are encouraged to avoid visiting the units during the outbreak, if possible. This applies especially to visitors who may be feeling unwell themselves.
“That would apply to not only all of our residential care facilities, but also in the hospital,” Plank said. “If you’re feeling sick, please keep your germs at home.”
