THE unprecedented influenza crisis gripping Mount Gambier’s largest aged care provider continues to escalate with more residents yesterday being suspected of developing the infection.
Two more cases of suspected influenza have been reported at Boandik’s Crouch Street facility, which is battling to contain the rapid spread of the infection.
Boandik management yesterday expressed disbelief that 55 residents – spread across Crouch Street and Lake Terrace East sites – are suspected or have been confirmed as having the influenza A strain during the past 12 days.
This is despite all permanent residents being vaccinated against the flu.
While three residents have died at the facilities in the past 10 days, there have been no confirmed deaths directly linked to influenza.
Boandik chief executive officer Gillian McGinty yesterday stood by Boandik’s response to the crisis, revealing it acted immediately when the first suspected case was reported.
“We are doing absolutely everything we can and the residents are being well cared for,” Ms McGinty told The Border Watch yesterday.
But she feared more people could be affected in coming days given 25 of the 73 residents at Crouch Street have been diagnosed or suspected of having influenza.
“There is that possibility, this strain of influenza is so virulent,” Ms McGinty said.
“It is the most contagious influenza we have ever seen.”
The facility manager said she had been “very surprised” by the rapid spread of the virus, which had mutated and the flu shot was no longer effective.
“There have been mutations in the past where people have got a milder form of the flu even if you had a flu shot, but this is really strong form of flu – it is very nasty,” Ms McGinty explained.
“The staff who have had it say they haven’t been this sick for a long, long time and some say they can’t ever remember being this sick.”
Ms McGinty said many of the affected residents had been “very ill” because they were a vulnerable population.
“But everyone is an individual and some are not as ill as others and some people just cope with the symptoms and can be well supported,” she said.
The facility is not conveying people to hospital unless it is “absolutely necessary” because the health facility had also been inundated with people.
“We have had fantastic support from medical professionals who have been going above and beyond to make sure everyone has the medication they require,” Ms McGinty said.
In a positive sign, she revealed there had been no new influenza cases reported at Lake Terrace site since last Friday.
“We are hoping it is now contained at Lake Terrace and we can start planning some activities for next week,” Ms McGinty said.
If there were no new cases, she foreshadowed the facility should be clear by Sunday of next week.
She explained residents had been confined to their rooms, communal activities were cancelled and volunteers barred at Lake Terrace, which was having a “huge impact” on residents who had not become ill.
Despite some media claiming the facilities were in lock down, Ms McGinty said this was not correct.
“It is definitely not a lock down, we are not locking people out – family members are still encouraged to come and visit as long as they are not ill,” the manager said.
But she said people were restricted to only visiting their family members.
Regarding media speculation a resident had died from influenza, Ms McGinty said this had not been verified.
“A resident who died suddenly on Friday had previously been diagnosed with influenza, but his cause of death has not been confirmed,” Ms McGinty said.
But she conceded any illness did impact on a person’s health and could contribute to a death.
The deceased residents’ family has referred the death to the coroner.
A number of staff have also succumbed to influenza, which was placing pressure on its operations.
“If they present with any respiratory symptoms, then they have to stay home,” Ms McGinty said.
Residents are being confined to their rooms for eight days from when they first showed symptoms.
More than 50pc of staff have been vaccinated against the flu.
