Rest homes on top of outbreak

Outbreaks of a nasty stomach bug that put two Northland rest homes in "lock down" are both likely to be declared over today.

Ranburn Lifestyle residential rest home, in Waipu, and Shalom Aged Care facility in Whangarei, have both been affected by an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis, which was linked to the deaths of two elderly Northland rest home residents last year.

Northland District Health Board (NDHB) medical officer of health Jonathan Jarman said Shalom had 20 recorded cases of norovirus and the outbreak at that facility was now officially over, while Ranburn had 27 cases and its outbreak was likely to be declared over today if there were no new cases overnight.

Dr Jarman said both outbreaks were confirmed as being caused by norovirus.

"Norovirus outbreaks are very difficult to control in rest homes. It is to the credit of the health workers and residents in both Ranburn and Shalom rest homes that they managed to get on top of this very infectious disease," he said.

A norovirus outbreak last year affected 288 people in six Northland rest homes and was linked to the deaths of two elderly residents.

"It's a fact of life for rest homes that sooner or later most of them can expect an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis," Dr Jarman said.