Home hit by virus

FOUR elderly residents at a Charters Towers nursing home were struck down by a virus last week.

Infectious Diseases staff specialist Chris Heather said the Townsville Hospital and Health Service became aware of four cases of confirmed human metapneumovirus cases in four residents at Eventide on January 11. “There have been no additional cases and those who had the virus are now free of any symptoms,” Dr Heather said. He said spread of respiratory viruses in residential aged care facilities could be common due to the number of people who visit.

“We always ask people who are unwell to not visit Eventide until they have recovered and for those people who do visit to practice good hand hygiene,” he said. “The Townsville HHS’S infection control team closely monitored the situation and put in place additional infection control procedures.

“Human metapneumovirus is typically a mild illness, similar to a common cold, that affects the upper respiratory system; however, it can be more severe in elderly people.”