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Friday, March 29, 2024
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HomeHealth and LifestyleLocal long term care homes dealing with respiratory outbreaks

Local long term care homes dealing with respiratory outbreaks

KAWARTHA LAKES-The flu has hit local seniors facilites hard this year. The Haliburton, Kawarth, Pine Ridge District Health Unit says a number of local long term care facilities are dealing with respiratory outbreaks.

Victoria Manor, Fenelon Court and Frost Manor all report they are in a respiratory outbreak and are asking residents not to visit the facilities if they are sick.

According to the health unit there is three confirmed cases of the flu in the area so far this year.“So far in the 2017/2018 flu season, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reports a total of three lab-confirmed influenza cases in its area (one case each in City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County and Northumberland County). The Health Unit saw its first flu case in late November.” said Marianne Rock, Communicable Disease Control Manager at the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. She says the number is on par with last year.

The Health Unit encourages people to fight flu this winter by taking the right precautions. These include: washing your hands thoroughly and often, sneezing and coughing into your sleeves, and staying home from school and work if sick. Eating well, getting sufficient sleep and being physically active on a regular basis also helps keep the body’s immune system strong.

Another important way to fight influenza is to get the flu shot according to officials. “There is still time to get the flu shot, as vaccines are available through local pharmacies and health care providers. Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone six months of age and older.” said Rock

Influenza virus spreads mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by touching objects or surfaces with flu viruses on them and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and extreme weakness and fatigue.

&nbspphoto credit: Alyssa L. Miller A Silent Calling via photopin (license)

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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