Vic: Four dead following salmonella outbreak in nursing home

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2007
Vic: Four dead following salmonella outbreak in nursing home

Eds: closes off earlier



By Peter Veness and Julie Tullberg

MELBOURNE, April 14 AAP - Four elderly people are dead after a salmonella outbreak
at a Melbourne nursing home.

Victoria's Department of Human Services tonight said three men and a woman, aged in
their 70s and 80s, had died from food poisoning.

"There has been four deaths associated with the outbreak," Rosemary Lester told AAP.

The Broughton Hall nursing home in Camberwell was home to about 30 residents when the
outbreak was first detected on April 5.

Over the next seven days 21 residents caught the gastroenteritis bug associated with
salmonella - one woman, 93, remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Dr Lester is confident the outbreak has now been contained following de-contamination
of the nursing home's kitchen.

Food is being brought in for residents with Dr Lester saying no evacuation was necessary.

"We are extremely concerned about the outbreak," Dr Lester said.

Both Victoria's coroner and Human Services department are investigating the deaths.

Broughton Hall executive director Sharon McGowan told the Nine Network her priority
was caring for the residents during what had been a difficult period.

"It's a very difficult time and obviously our priority is actually caring for the residents
and keeping families informed," Ms McGowan said.

"And we have been spending this afternoon, particularly, keeping the families informed."

AAP pv/cdh

KEYWORD: POISON LEAD

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