Fairfax Co. Va Update: Outbreak of Respiratory Illness at a Long-Term Care Facility

Credit CDC PHIL

#14,189


Over the weekend, in Fairfax Co. Va Health Advisory: Outbreak of Respiratory Illness at a Long-Term Care Facility, we looked at a Health Advisory from the Fairfax County Health Department regarding an - as yet unidentified - respiratory outbreak at nursing facility.

They reported:

• Since June 30, 2019, 55 out of the 263 residents assisted living and skilled nursing care have become ill with respiratory symptoms ranging from upper respiratory illness (cough) to pneumonia. Of the ill individuals, 20 have been hospitalized and two have died.
  

• A specific etiology has not been identified and additional tests are being conducted. 

We've a new update from the Fairfax County Health Department as of 3pm yesterday afternoon, and while it doesn't shed any new light on the cause of this outbreak, it does update the numbers affected and hospitalized.

Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 11, 2019

Update: July 15, 2019, 3:00 pm

Fairfax County Health Department continues to investigate an outbreak of respiratory illness at Greenspring, a long-term care facility with assisted living and skilled nursing care, in Springfield, Va.

Over the last 14 days, a total of 60 individuals out of the 263 residents in this facility have become ill with symptoms ranging from upper respiratory symptoms (cough) to pneumonia. Of the ill individuals, 23 have been hospitalized. There has also been a total of two deaths associated with the outbreak. 

The individuals who died had complex health conditions. The Health Department does not know the full medical history and the extent to which the respiratory illness contributed to the deaths.

No cause for the illnesses has yet been identified, but the Health Department is working with the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct testing for viruses and bacteria that may cause respiratory illness. There continues to be excellent collaboration between Greenspring and the Health Department, and appropriate measures have been taken to reduce the risk of infection and keep residents safe.

        (Continue . . . )


There's no mention of illness among staff or visitors - only `residents' - who admittedly are generally more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

While local media continues to tout a `mystery virus', the pathogen behind this outbreak could could just as easily be bacterial.  

Hopefully we'll get some clarity on the causative agent from the CDC labs soon.