The Sunrise Health Region has announced visitor traffic will be reduced at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre (YRHC) in an effort to reduce the spread of the flu.
A respiratory influenza circulating in the community has infected several staff and patients in the medicine and inpatient surgery wings of the YRHC. Visiting and traffic through the hospital will be restricted in order to contain and eliminate spread of this contagious illness.
Until further notice, no visiting is allowed on first floor medicine unit and third floor, inpatient surgery unit. Compassionate visiting (e.g. visiting a terminally ill patient) can be arranged by calling ahead to the nurse's station where the visitor will receive instruction on how to limit exposure and transmission.
Visiting is allowed in other areas of the hospital at this time however, children under the age of six years should not visit and persons who have a cough, fever or other flu symptoms should not visit patients and should consider staying home.
During this illness outbreak, the Sunrise is advising visitors do not use the main entrance of the hospital. All members of the public are asked to use the Emergency/Patient Admitting entrance.
Respiratory influenza illness will generally result in discomfort for several days in a healthy person, but can be much more serious for those who are very young, very old, or who have an acute or chronic health condition, states a report issued this week by the Sunrise.
"It is important that contagious illness be identified early and steps taken to keep illness from spreading to others, especially in healthcare facilities.
"The declaration of an outbreak should not be viewed with fear; it is simply a measure to contain illness, to reduce the spread to unaffected patients, residents and staff in the facility, and to keep visitors from unintentionally transmitting illness to other patients and their own family members."
A list of current outbreaks and visitor information is located on the Sunrise Health Region website, www.sunrisehealthregion.sk.ca 'Alerts & Notices' side menu or by calling the Sunrise InfoLine, 1-866-800-5510.
The following facilities are currently on outbreak status. Visitors should call ahead to the nurses' station before visiting the facility:
1st floor medicine - Yorkton Regional Health Centre (Influenza A illness)
3rd floor inpatient surgery - Yorkton Regional Health Centre- (respiratory illness)
www.SunriseHealthRegion.sk.ca
Langenburg Centennial Special Care Home (Influenza A illness)
Lakeside Manor Care Home (stomach illness)
Yorkton and District Nursing Home - North 1 wing (Parainfluenza Type 3 illness)
Kamsack and District Nursing Home (stomach illness)
Foam Lake Jubilee Home (respiratory illness)
Canora Gateway Lodge (respiratory illness)
"You can help reduce the spread of illness in our community. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not into hands. Wash hands often throughout the day. Stay home when sick. Protect yourself and others by getting an annual influenza vaccination when it is offered. Anyone still wishing to be vaccinated for influenza can contact their local Public Health Office to arrange immunization."
