Late flu outbreak strikes nursing home

Late flu outbreak strikes nursing home

A late flu outbreak appears to be hitting Nebraska's urban areas, according to state epidemiologist Tom Safranek.

Safranek made the call after a Blair nursing home was quarantined when 42 of the 83 residents developed symptoms in the last two weeks.

One of those residents died when his respiratory infection led to pneumonia.

Nearly all of the Blair residents received flu shots before the outbreak there, Safranek said

No visitors were being allowed at the nursing home, and all residents were taking anti-vial drugs and eating meals in their rooms in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

The quarantine comes two weeks after an outbreak of the flu led the Grand Island Veterans Home to take similar measures.

The Grand Island home was quarantined in February after seven cases were diagnosed at the home of 340 residents. The outbreak came even though 98% of residents were given flu shots.

Source:

Midwest Nurse Week, Vol.3, No. 2; March/April 2002, p27 (free magazine) www.nurseweek.com

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