Influenza Rates Spike with 55 Reported Long Term Care Outbreaks

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Elizabeth Sether, RN, MHA, LNHA

Flu activity season is in full swing. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, influenza activity has moved from low rates to widespread. Hospitalization rates for 2017 – 2018 indicate that the 65+ age group has almost tripled all other flu cases for those who have been hospitalized. There have been 55 reported influenza-like illness outbreaks in long term care.  

February is usually the highest month of flu activity. As older adults served in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living and home care are the most likely at risk for influenza, health care providers need to initiate with greater intensity their practices for prevention. This includes diligent surveillance and reducing exposure to active influenza or influenza-like illness cases.  

Surveillance: When there is influenza activity in the local community, active daily surveillance for influenza illness should be conducted among all new and current residents, staff, and visitors of long-term care facilities, and continued until the end of influenza season. Ill residents, personnel and visitors should be excluded from the facility until illness has resolved. In older adults, the disease may be atypical and present with a new onset of cough, sore throat, nasal congestion or temperature of 100 degrees or greater. Other symptoms may be complaints of anorexia, mental status changes and unexplained fever. In the general population, the symptoms may be fever, feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.   

Identify an Outbreak:  An outbreak is at least two residents with onset of influenza-like illnesses within 72 hours of each other AND at least one has laboratory-confirmed influenza. 

Report an Outbreak:  Submit a Long-Term Care Facility influenza and RSV Report Form, 2017-18 to MDH by email or fax when an influenza outbreak is identified in your setting. Contact MDH at 651-201-5924 with questions regarding reporting or influenza outbreak control measures. 

Isolation for Influenza and Influenza-Like Illness: Standard and droplet precaution isolation should be in place for the duration of the symptoms of illness. 

Employment practices: Offer vaccination to all employees throughout the season; provide staff education on the flu symptoms and highlight that they can be infectious one day before exhibiting classic symptoms; enforce staff not working when they are sick; and encourage staff to notify managers if they do develop an influenza-like illness. 

Visitor Restrictions: Post signs at entry to restrict ill visitors; publish level of visitor restrictions notices to the community; limit visitor movement in the facility; limit visiting to persons necessary for the resident/tenant well-being and care; hand hygiene and appropriate PPE to be used instructions. For more nformation, see visitor restrictions. 

Helpful Resources to Download:

• Sign to Restrict Ill Visitors: Help Protect our Residents 
• Poster: Cover Your Cough 
• Employee Education: MDH Presentation 

MDH said as the flu season climbs toward its peak, flu vaccines are still available. They also noted the flu vaccine is effective this year, despite rumors to the contrary.