Inquiry into rest home virus deaths

Senior man at palliative care unit

The deaths of two Whangarei rest home residents after an outbreak of respiratory virus at a Waipu care home is being investigated by health officials.

A 94-year-old and an 80-year-old died on Monday at the Ultimate Care Ranburn facility.

Ultimate Care Group chief clinical officer Carole Kaffes said it's believed the two residents died from pneumonia, after becoming infected with a respiratory virus.

"These are very frail elderly and when there is any type of virus they are very susceptible, when they develop a chest infection that's what happens," Ms Kaffes said.

"We're hoping it's been contained and eradicated."

She said the facility - which offered rest home, hospital level, dementia and respite care - had been recently audited and she was confident all procedures had been "scrutinised".

The home had four deaths over Monday and Tuesday, but two of these were unrelated to the virus and were people in "end-of-life palliative care", Ms Kaffes said.

A spokeswoman for Northland DHB said it had been asked to assess the situation and provide advice through its Public Health Unit.

"An investigation is under way into the cause of the illnesses and these results are not yet available.

"Respiratory illnesses are not uncommon at this time of year ... it is most unlikely that the illnesses are influenza-related," she said.