Stomach bug sickens 20 at Vancouver retirement home
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - A stomach bug has stricken at least 20 people of the Van Mall Retirement home in Vancouver.
General Manager Bill Hess says gastroenteritis has sickened 10 to 12 employees and 10 residents, including two who were sent to a hospital.
The Clark County health officer, Dr. Alan Melnick, says the home has implemented health department recommendations.
They include admitting no new residents, canceling group dining and activities, and frequent cleaning of common areas with bleach.
The home has 205 residents. They are being served meals in their rooms.
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Information from: The Columbian, http://www.columbian.com
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
I worry for the residents at the home who often are at a greater risk because of their age and ailments. I hope the facility can get this under control quickly.
Nursing homes are right up there with getting sick and passing on diseases. The other top rated places are hospitals and day care centers.
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Some things are so predictable.
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Sounds like the norovirus which makes its rounds every year.
That is serious. I hope the find the cause of it.
 @lee986321 I've worked at nursing homes off and on for almost 8 years. These stomach bugs are far more common than people think (despite media sensationalism). I've had a few experiences with these outbreaks and most facilities are pretty good at preventing these viruses from spreading, as this article indicates. It's a nasty situation when it happens, but it is also very rarely life-threatening, even to those who are considered frail.