Local long-term care facilities are experiencing influenza outbreaks.
“What’s made it a little difficult for us is it’s not just influenza circulating in some of these long-term care facilities and also in the community. There’s a number of organisms,” said Dr. Mark Vooght, chief medical officer for Five Hills Health Region (FHHR).
“The most common at the moment (is) influenza A which we’d expect at this time of the year ... Later in the season, probably towards the end of January (or) February, it may transition into being influenza B predominant, but it’s too early to say right now.”
He said the Edgar Hall wing of Providence Place is experiencing an outbreak of influenza A and coronavirus OC43. The outbreak began on Dec. 28. Vooght said that specific wing is shut down.
The Raphael Wing of Providence Place had a respiratory outbreak and so did the Extendicare special needs unit, which is also shut down. Both of those outbreaks began on Jan. 2.
For more information, see Friday's edition of the Times-Herald.
