The Sunshine Lodge is experiencing an outbreak of flu-like cases and is limiting visitation.
The Valley and indeed North America is wading through flu season. Earlier this season, the Hillview Lodge was limiting visitation and recently a sign was plastered on the entrances stating the institution is experiencing “a gastrointestinal outbreak” and state the number of guests at the facility will be limited.
While this is a reason to be careful, Digby Horne, medical officer for Alberta Health Services (AHS) Central Region, says it is not uncommon. When a facility such as the lodge has two or more cases that are linked in time, AHS declares a gastrointestinal or a respiratory outbreak.
“Gastrointestinal outbreaks are common throughout the year, the respiratory outbreaks are a little less common but do occur in the winter months. This year in the central zone, we have had several of them,” said Horne.
He explains how they declare an outbreak.
“We do surveillance for what we call influenza–like illness, respiratory illness that could be influenza,” he said. “Once we detect two or more of these cases in a facility within a seven-day period, then we ask them to do cultures to see if it is influenza, parainfluenza or other viruses.
“In this case we have a mixture, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and one case of influenza. We are waiting on the results of a swab from another person and we’ll see if it comes back as anything. We can describe it as a mixed outbreak. If we were to get another case of influenza, then we might treat it more as an influenza outbreak and in that case we would provide residents and staff with antiviral medication if they have not been immunized.”
He explains that in the case of influenza, they can declare the outbreak as lifted after eight days, approximately two incubation periods. There are other criteria if antiviral drugs are used, or for outbreak of RSC or parainfluenza.
He said it has not been the best year for the uptake of the flu vaccine, although he says more people are waking up to getting a vaccination.
They have new vaccination clinics introduced in urban centres, and in many cases they are still available from family doctors, pharmacies, and Public Health.
He says those wanting a vaccination can call the community health clinics for times or check with Healthlink to make an appointment.