HSE investigating outbreak in Achill nursing home

HSE investigating outbreak in Achill nursing home


Anton McNulty

THE HSE are awaiting the results of the autopsy of a 89-year-old man to determine if an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis was responsible for his death while he was a resident of St Fionnán’s Community Nursing Unit on Achill.
Last Thursday evening, eleven residents and five members of staff of the HSE run community nursing home fell ill with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, which initially led to speculation that it was caused by an outbreak of food poisoning.
One of the residents, Mr Michael James Moran of Faungloss, Clare Island died shortly after he showed symptoms and his body was brought to Mayo General Hospital for a post mortem, before he was brought to Clare Island for burial on Sunday. It is understood Mr Moran became violently ill with vomiting and diarrhoea on Thursday and was treated by a local GP, Dr Paddy Lineen.
However, the initial fears of an outbreak of food poisoning was alleviated over the weekend with the outbreak expected to be caused by an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis, which may have been brought into the community home. On Friday, there were reports of seven more residents suffering from the symptoms but they are now showing signs of recovery after being treated by local GP’s.
As a precaution, a boil notice was put in place on the Achill Regional Water Supply System and the public were urged not to consume water without boiling it first and that included water used for drinking, washing teeth, food preparation and making ice.
As of yesterday (Monday), there were no new cases of acute gastroenteritis among residents at St Fionnán’s and patients who showed symptoms are stable and are showing signs of recovery. St Fionnán’s caters for approximately 30 people, mainly aged over 70 years and all patients are under the care of the local GP’s and are being cared by the nursing staff.
When the residents first fell ill, a response to control the outbreak was put in place with samples of suspect food items sent to the lab for analysis. An Outbreak Control Team made up of public health, environmental health, community medical service, GP, nursing staff from the unit, microbiology, infection control from Mayo General Hospital and HSE management  met to co-ordinate the response to the outbreak.
Barbara Moran, Director of Nursing at St Fionnán’s sympathised with the family of Mr Moran and said family members of all residents had been contacted to advise them of the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis.
“We have advised these relatives that there are some visiting restrictions in place and to contact the unit in advance of any visits,” she said.