ID :
12248
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 19:14
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https://oananews.org//node/12248
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Ten die after gastro hits nursing homes
(AAP) NSW Health authorities are concerned tainted food may have caused two gastroenteritis outbreaks at a Blue Mountains nursing home where 10 people died last month, but have found no evidence to support their fears.
At least 83 residents at Endeavour Nursing Home in Springwood, west of Sydney, were afflicted with diarrhoea and other symptoms from the outbreaks in mid and late June, NSW Health said.
Fears of contaminated food were investigated as a possible cause but in an inspection of the facility the NSW Food Authority found no evidence of any problem.
However, NSW Health acting deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty said tainted food could still have been the cause.
He said test results from a number of ill residents revealed clostridium perfringens - a bacterium known to cause food poisoning.
The toll is more than twice the number of people who would normally die during any given month at the nursing home, he said.
"Up to five deaths might occur at this facility in any month just naturally. Ten deaths seems unusual," Dr McAnulty told reporters in Sydney.
Eight of the 10 people who died had recovered from their gastro symptoms, but passed away days later.
Many of their death certificates state the cause of death as pneumonia and other unrelated conditions, Dr McAnulty said.
"The deaths recorded on the death certificates were a range of things often unrelated to diarrhoea," he said.
"It may well be coincidental, but we're taking it seriously."In winter months, viral gastroenteritis, which spreads from person to person, is quite normal, but a food-borne version of the virus is uncommon.
"Again, we're not making a link with the deaths but we're concerned and we're investigating," Dr McAnulty said.
"We understand at the moment, based on our investigation, that it's likely to be a food-borne outbreak."NSW Food has inspected the facility and its procedures after both outbreaks and will do so again on Monday.
An expert panel of health professionals has been convened to provide input into the investigation, but the chances of determining the cause retrospectively are low.
"So the cause, although we think related to food, we haven't been able to pinpoint," Dr McAnulty said.
"We may never be able to pinpoint exactly what it is."The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA) says the view of NSW Health that the deaths may be unrelated to the outbreak reek of a "cover-up".
"Gastro puts enormous strain on the body, especially the bodies of elderly nursing home residents. It may well indirectly cause their deaths," CPSA policy coordinator Paul Versteege said in a statement.
"More than 10 per cent of nursing homes residents are wiped out in the space of three weeks - that's some mortality rate."
At least 83 residents at Endeavour Nursing Home in Springwood, west of Sydney, were afflicted with diarrhoea and other symptoms from the outbreaks in mid and late June, NSW Health said.
Fears of contaminated food were investigated as a possible cause but in an inspection of the facility the NSW Food Authority found no evidence of any problem.
However, NSW Health acting deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty said tainted food could still have been the cause.
He said test results from a number of ill residents revealed clostridium perfringens - a bacterium known to cause food poisoning.
The toll is more than twice the number of people who would normally die during any given month at the nursing home, he said.
"Up to five deaths might occur at this facility in any month just naturally. Ten deaths seems unusual," Dr McAnulty told reporters in Sydney.
Eight of the 10 people who died had recovered from their gastro symptoms, but passed away days later.
Many of their death certificates state the cause of death as pneumonia and other unrelated conditions, Dr McAnulty said.
"The deaths recorded on the death certificates were a range of things often unrelated to diarrhoea," he said.
"It may well be coincidental, but we're taking it seriously."In winter months, viral gastroenteritis, which spreads from person to person, is quite normal, but a food-borne version of the virus is uncommon.
"Again, we're not making a link with the deaths but we're concerned and we're investigating," Dr McAnulty said.
"We understand at the moment, based on our investigation, that it's likely to be a food-borne outbreak."NSW Food has inspected the facility and its procedures after both outbreaks and will do so again on Monday.
An expert panel of health professionals has been convened to provide input into the investigation, but the chances of determining the cause retrospectively are low.
"So the cause, although we think related to food, we haven't been able to pinpoint," Dr McAnulty said.
"We may never be able to pinpoint exactly what it is."The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA) says the view of NSW Health that the deaths may be unrelated to the outbreak reek of a "cover-up".
"Gastro puts enormous strain on the body, especially the bodies of elderly nursing home residents. It may well indirectly cause their deaths," CPSA policy coordinator Paul Versteege said in a statement.
"More than 10 per cent of nursing homes residents are wiped out in the space of three weeks - that's some mortality rate."
