Flu outbreak hits nursing home

A nursing home in Co Roscommon has ceased admissions following an outbreak of influenza.

A nursing home in Co Roscommon has ceased admissions following an outbreak of influenza.

Some 42 of the 76 residents at Drumderrig Private Nursing Home in Boyle have been affected by the virus. Two people have died at the nursing home since the outbreak began, but the HSE has not yet confirmed if the deaths were caused by the flu.

The outbreak was caused by the same A H3 virus that killed seven residents at Nazareth House nursing home in Buncrana, Co Donegal, earlier this year.

There have been no new cases of the illness at the Boyle nursing home since April 26th, a spokeswoman for the HSE said, adding recommended infection-control measures had been put in place by the private nursing home.

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“The HSE West public health team is working with the nursing home to ensure that all appropriate infection control measures are in place,” she said. “They will continue to manage and closely monitor the situation in line with best practice.”

The nursing home had ceased admissions temporarily and there were also visitor restrictions in place.

“All ill patients have been treated with the antiviral Tamiflu, and all other patients have been put on preventive medicine,” the spokeswoman said.

Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland is a crime writer and former Irish Times journalist