Seventh resident of Donegal nursing home dies of flu

ANOTHER ELDERLY patient has died at the Nazareth House nursing home in Co Donegal.

This latest death is not thought to be part of the flu outbreak at the private nursing home in Fahan, Buncrana.

Over the past fortnight, between March 22nd and April 2nd, six other people – aged in their 80s and 90s – died at the nursing home as a result of the outbreak. The most recent death was certified by a family GP.

No cause of death has been released publicly but HSE North West said yesterday that it was of the opinion that this death was “not related to the current outbreak”.

It is reported that up to 14 residents in the care home have influenza and they have been segregated from other residents.

Since the outbreak, residents at the home, which is run by the religious congregation the Sisters of Nazareth, have received anti-viral treatments.

A HSE North West spokeswoman said its public health team, including doctors, nurses and surveillance scientists, continued to closely manage and monitor the situation.

In a statement issued last night, the HSE reiterated its advice that, while flu was usually a relatively mild infection, it could be a very serious illness among the elderly and was a common cause of death in older people.

“People should be aware of the simple measures they can take to reduce the risk of infection. These include covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and washing your hands with soap and water as soon as you can afterwards.”

A spokeswoman said people visiting older residents of nursing homes – including healthcare staff – should ensure their influenza vaccinations were up to date.

A Health Information and Quality Authority inspection team visited the home this week but declined to say when it would publish its report.

The authority was called in to the nursing home when a GP notified the HSE about the flu outbreak on April 1st, after five people had died over a short period.

A report earlier this week from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that, during February and March this year, the number of older people dying of the influenza A (H3N2) virus had been greater than expected across Europe.

Doctors have suggested the return of H3N2 this year has had an impact on older patients, who sometimes react badly to the flu vaccine. The H3 strain included in the seasonal vaccine given to at- risk people since last September is an imperfect match for the strain of the virus currently infecting patients.