Wales : Seven Dorothy Lewis care home residents still being treated in hospital

Via Wales Online :

" Health experts are continuing to investigate a flu outbreak which has killed two residents of a Cardiff care home.

Seven residents of the Dorothy Lewis Residential Home, in Canton, are still being treated in hospital after contracting the common winter virus.

In all, 20 of the home’s 33 residents and many of the staff have suffered flu-like symptoms since February 19.

All have fallen ill with the H3N2 strain of flu, which is different to swine flu, which was responsible for the 2009 pandemic.

Dr Marion Lyons, the lead consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “It is not unusual to see outbreaks of influenza in elderly care homes.

“Unfortunately, elderly patients – many of whom will have many other illnesses – are more susceptible to the virus and struggle to fight off the disease.

“Sometimes those who are extremely ill with other conditions contract flu and die, not just because of the flu virus but because they were in a vulnerable condition to begin with.

“Public Health Wales will continue to work with the residential home to monitor the situation."