Two people die in flu outbreak at nursing homes in Wales

Two people have died during a flu outbreak that has hit two nursing homes in Wales.

The flu outbreak at the first nursing home in Swansea has killed two people and left five people hospitalised.

A further nine patients and three staff have been unwell with symptoms of flu.

Thirty of the 38 patients at the nursing home have been offered the antiviral Tamiflu – 10 because they are already unwell and 20 to prevent them from becoming unwell.

At the second nursing home in Swansea, 12 out of 46 patients have been ill with flu-like symptoms and nine people have tested positive for Influenza A.

One person from the home has been admitted to hospital.

Dr Jörg Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “Flu circulates in the UK between October and April and is not uncommon to see outbreaks in closed communities like nursing homes, where the disease can spread easily.

“People with flu will usually experience a fever, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. “Fit and healthy people will usually recover from flu without any complications and without needing medication.”

Dr Hoffman added: “However, in elderly people, flu can be more serious and therefore we have treated patients at this nursing home with Tamiflu as a precaution.”

Seasonal flu vaccination is offered every year to people over 65, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions that make them vulnerable to complications, and Public Health Wales strongly recommends that eligible people are vaccinated.

The nursing homes have not been identified in order to keep the patients’ identity anonymous.