Viral outbreak strikes hundreds at rehab facility (Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Roslindale, Mass.)

[Ian David]

By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff | March 8, 2007

About 200 elderly residents and 100 workers at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale have been stricken in the past two weeks with a gastrointestinal illness that caused the sprawling facility to stop accepting new patients and summon reinforcements for its depleted staff.

An 87-year-old resident who developed symptoms of the viral illness died during the outbreak, but Boston disease investigators and hospital officials said yesterday it is not clear whether the infection contributed to his death. One other resident, who had existing medical problems, was hospitalized. Other residents and workers have recovered.

The outbreak at the 721-bed facility affected 8 percent of its staff of 1,200 and about 28 percent of residents.

Boston health authorities said the outbreak, believed to be caused by norovirus, is the largest so far this winter in the city. Disease trackers suspect that norovirus is the source of similar episodes of vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea in elementary schools, colleges, hospitals, and nursing homes across the Northeast.

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Because the virus spreads so easily, and because so many of the Hebrew Rehab residents are frail, doctors and other personnel acted swiftly to contain the outbreak, said DeMaria and Martini. The salad bar was shuttered, all surfaces were repeatedly disinfected, and food brought in by relatives was banished.

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/03/08/viral_outbreak_strikes_hundreds_at_rehab_facility/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News