While the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has declared influenza A outbreaks at two rest homes there, the ’flu situation here is looking much more positive as no cases have been reported at Rainycrest Home for the Aged nor any of the district hospitals.
“So far, so good. Knock on wood,” local public health inspector Brian Norris said yesterday afternoon.
“There’s obviously been some cases in the community as a whole, but there’s been no cases reported in any institutions,” he added. “And if influenza was found in a facility, we would be contacted.”^One possible reason why cases haven’t shown up at these facilities here is the vaccination rates of both staff and patients at hospitals and long-term care facilities, said Norris.
The local health unit not only has been offering free ’flu shots for the past couple of months, but CEO and medical officer of health Dr. Pete Sarsfield himself has been demanding all health care workers get a shot—or face indefinite suspension from work in the case of any outbreak.
The health unit has received data back from various health care institutions as far as compliance for ’flu vaccinations go, but won’t release it until at least next week— after the institutions themselves have gotten a chance to see numbers, public health nurse Cindy McKinnon said yesterday afternoon.
The Thunder Bay Chronicle- Journal reported yesterday that several residents at both the Pioneer Ridge and Grandview Lodge homes for the aged there had contracted the ’flu virus this week.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
