Six people dead in influenza outbreak at Whitianga rest home
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Six people have died in 10 days from “influenza-like symptoms”
The outbreak started on January 26 at an aged care facility in Whitianga
The residents died between January 28 and February 8
Six residents at an aged care facility in Whitianga have died from a flu-like virus, the company which owns the unit confirmed.
28 people including 18 residents and 10 staff got sick from the virus.
The outbreak started at Whitianga Care Centre and Village, a beachfront retirement complex at Mercury Bay, Coromandel, which includes residential and hospital care.
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Anita Hawthorne, group general manager sales and services at Oceania Healthcare, which owns the facility confirmed that six people had died of the influenza virus.
The deceased residents were aged 80-98 years old.
The outbreak began on January 26, when a resident who went to hospital was tested and identified as having influenza A, she told Stuff.
People at the facility then started showing flu-like symptoms of “fever, sore throat, cough, headaches.”
“18 residents and 10 team members manifested with flu-like symptoms,” she said.
There were 48 residents and 29 team members at the Care Centre at the time of the outbreak.
Residents and their families were given advice they would be in isolation and PPE was made available for staff and visitors, she said.
The company offered its deepest sympathies to those who had lost loved ones, she said.
“We look after an older population who are more susceptible to the consequences of viruses. The virus incubates before it presents. Once identified and Infection Control processes were put in place, we were able to stem any further infection.”
Te Whatu Ora/ Health New Zealand said it was notified of the outbreak on January 28.
Te Whatu Ora’s clinical director public health Unit, Dr Felicity Dumble, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waikato:
'Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand was notified of an outbreak with influenza-like symptoms at a Whitianga aged residential care centre on 28 January. The National Public Health Service (NPHS) provided information and guidance for managing the outbreak,“ said clinical director, public health unit, Dr Felicity Dumble.
Te Whatu Ora officially closed the outbreak on February 9, based on no further spread of the illness, she said.
Anita Hawthorne, group general manager sales and services at Oceania said in a written statement that their “deepest sympathies are with those families who have lost a loved one through the influenza virus.”
She said there had been no more cases since the six deaths.
“We worked closely with Te Whatu Ora ensuring full Infection Control Protocols were followed, and can advise that there are no more influenza virus cases at our Whitianga Care Centre.'
Oceania is a healthcare business with 44 sites across Aotearoa providing residential care and aged facilities for more than 4000 people.