SUMMERSIDE - Prince Edward Island's Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison confirmed Friday that an influenza outbreak at Summerset Manor has claimed the lives of three residents.
"All three residents were males with an average age of 83, all with underlying health issues," said Morrison.
Health P.E.I.'s Chief Nursing Officer Shelley Woods said it has been about two seeks since a significant number of Manor residents began to show influenza symptoms. At that time, precautions were taken and several residents were swabbed. The three residents who tested positive for influenza have since passed.
As of Friday, seven of the Manor's 82 residents are still on precautions. All residents have received medication as a preventative measure.
"They are currently restricting residents with symptoms to their rooms and gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection are being worn within two meters," said Woods. "Visitors have not been restricted, but there are signs up letting them know we're experiencing an influenza outbreak."
There are currently 97 lab-confirmed cases of influenza on P.E.I., with 47 patients being hospitalized. Morrison said more than 90 per cent of the confirmed cases are influenza A and about eight per cent are influenza B. The two influenzas share similar symptoms and side effects.
"Those lab-confirmed cases don't mean those are the only cases, but it does indicate that we have influenza circulating across P.E.I. It's a surveillance that we can do so that we know what is circulating," said Morrison.
Morrison added that the number of influenza cases across Canada appears to be decreasing and she expects that trend to soon make its way to P.E.I.
Influenza claims the lives of between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians each year.
Influenza symptoms to look for include fever, sore throat, aches and fatigue. Morrison said most patients have described the flu, which is spread through repository droplets, as a sudden onset of illness. She recommends those in high-risk categories such as the elderly and newborns ensure they have received the influenza vaccine.
There have been no confirmed cases of influenza recorded in the past 48 hours, as of yesterday afternoon.
anicholson@journalpioneer.com
