Falconbridge Extendicare contains small flu outbreak

A small flu outbreak – affecting five senior residents – was identified at the Falconbridge Extendicare long-term care centre Thursday, Jan. 9.

Louise Arbour, Falconbridge Extendicare's acting administrator, said the outbreak, which happened on the building's fourth floor, has been contained.

“The safety of our residents and employees is our utmost priority,” Arbour told Northern Life.

Arbour said the five affected residents are doing well, and some no longer have flu symptoms.

Residents from the fourth floor cannot mingle with those from other parts of the building, and employees who work there have been contained to only that floor.

Arbour said 96 per cent of employees at the long-term care centre received their flu shot. Those who haven't had their flu shot have been on the flu-prevention drug Tamiflu.

About 86 per cent of residents have been immunized for the flu this season, and the remainder are also on Tamiflu.

Arbour said friends and family members of residents should not visit the unit until the flu outbreak has ended. If they must visit, she said the facility will provide them with a protective mask and gloves.