Flu outbreaks in two P.E.I. long-term care homes

P.E.I. health officials say there have been two influenza-like outbreaks in long-term care facilities recently.

One was at the Lady Slipper Villa in O'Leary and the other was at the Garden Home in Charlottetown.

Garden Home officials reported 16 residents and one employee have had flu-like symptoms over the last three weeks

Most have recovered but there are three residents who remain ill at the home, and three are in hospital.

There have been no new cases since Monday, they said, and the outbreak has been contained to one unit.

Visiting restrictions are in place and no new residents are being accepted until everything is clear.

Lady Slipper Villa officials said a couple of staff and a handful of residents had flu like symptoms, although they were not lab-confirmed.

The public health office said the outbreaks were reported according to regulations, and appropriate infection control measures were put in place.

They noted the number of reported outbreaks in long-term care facilities is significantly lower than at this point in time last year.

So far, just three have been reported this season, compared to 18 outbreaks in the winter of 2014-15.