- "Four people are dead and dozens of residents of
an east end nursing home in Toronto have been taken to hospital after an
outbreak of a mystery respiratory illness.
-
- Toronto Public Health experts told reporters Saturday
that 68 residents and five employees at Seven Oaks home for the aged in
the city's east end have come down with the illnesses
-
- Dr. Barbara Yaffe said 15 of them were admitted to hospital
-- four died yesterday.
-
- Three of the victims died at the home, with the fourth
dying in hospital.
-
- All of the patients had pre-existing medical conditions
and two were in their mid-90s. The other two victims were in their late
70s and 50s.
-
- At this point, staff and experts haven't found the source
of the "typical respiratory illness," but stress that it has
so far not been detected outside the facility.
-
- "We know from testing that it's not influenza, not
SARS, not avian influenza," said infectious disease specialist Dr.
Alison McGeer."
- _____
-
- The above comments are cause for concern. Although the
fatalities were elderly, the infection of five employees suggests the etiological
agent is fairly infectious.
- The illnesses began on September 25, so the spread has
been rapid.
-
- Details on the exclusion test would be useful.
-
- Webmaster: webmaster@recombinomics.com
- © 2005 Recombinomics. All rights reserved.
|
