In a local residential care facility, a third victim of a gastroenteritis outbreak has died. It is believed by SA Health that the outbreak is due to salmonella from contaminated food. Currently, all those who are stricken with gastroenteritis are in the state hospital (where I work). Given the aged population at ground zero, we expect more victims.
A THIRD person has died from the gastroenteritis outbreak at the Hahndorf Residential Care Services facility in the Adelaide Hills. Gordon Haynes, 88, died this morning at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The tragedy follows the deaths of another man, 77, and a woman, 71.
SA Health has notified the federal Department of Health and Ageing of the death as it continues to identify the source of the outbreak.
SA Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the man's death had been referred to the Coroner.
"The man was a resident of the Hahndorf Residential Care Service and died while being treated in hospital this morning," he said.
"I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the patient's family.
"SA Health is continuing to investigate the source of the outbreak, which is thought to be linked to salmonella from contaminated food.
"We are also working on the probability that the illness has spread to some residents by person-to-person contact.
"Our team is working with the nursing home to ensure that food handling and hygiene practices are appropriate and to ensure the spread of the illness is contained."
Twenty-two people have been affected by the outbreak, which remains contained to the nursing home.
A woman, 81, continues to receive hospital treatment for gastro symptoms.
Professor Phillips said while the outbreak appeared to be contained to the nursing home, it was timely to remind people of the importance of good hygiene practices to avoid the spread of bacteria, such as salmonella.
"While salmonellosis is a food-borne disease, it can also be spread by person-to-person contact, so common hygiene advice remains important for us all," he said.
Home director of nursing Suzanne Fuller said the staff and residents were ``very saddened'' by Mr Haynes' death.
She said health investigators had looked at ``every possible thing'' in a bid to find the source of the outbreak.
"We're really not coming up with an answer at all, which is unfortunate because we'd like to know how it all began,'' Ms Fuller said.
Mr Haynes had lived at the home for three years with his pet cat and birds.
"Unfortunately, (Gordon) hadn't been well for quite some time,'' Ms Fuller said. ``I've spoken with his family and all the residents and staff are really quite upset and very saddened by his death.''
TIPS TO STOP BACTERIAL SPREAD:
STORE food at the right temperature: Cold food should be kept at 5C or less, hot food at 60C or more
COOK food thoroughly: Minced meats need to be cooked through and poultry should be cooked so that juices run clear
DON'T cross contaminate: Keep raw and cooked foods separate; place raw meats on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator so that juices cannot drip on to other foods
CLEAN up all equipment: Wash knives and boards thoroughly; it is best to have separate meat and vegetable boards so that raw meat does not contaminate food that is to be eaten fresh
USE good hygiene practices: Regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands whilst preparing food, particularly between handling raw meats and foods that will be eaten fresh.
ALWAYS wash your hands after using the toilet or changing nappies and before eating, drinking and smoking.
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Personal gripe but why do journalists think that one sentence is enough for a paragraph?? I'd have had my butt handed to me on a plate by my matriculation English teacher if I ever passed up one sentence paragrahs.
