Influenza outbreak at Grand River Hospital Freeport campus

Grand River Hospital says it is limiting the number of visitors to its Freeport Campus as it monitors an influenza outbreak.

"At this time of year, it's almost inevitable that we are going to see influenza activity increasing," Mark Karjaluoto, director of communications with the hospital, said Thursday.

The outbreak is located in the Grand River Terrace level four, in the east and south courts.

Three patients have coughs, sore throats, muscle aches or fever, which are symptoms consistent with influenza, the hospital said in a release.

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"Just after New Year's Day, we encountered a patient who did test positive for influenza A and there were two others in a similar area who had symptoms," he added.

Karjaluoto said the hospital, with the help of Region of Waterloo Public Health, decided to declare an outbreak for two units, including one where no one is displaying symptoms yet.

"While there haven't been symptomatic patients, they do share dining facilities." 

Visitors to the hospital's Freeport Campus will be limited until the outbreak is lifted.

"Visitors with symptoms of a cold, influenza or a stomach virus are advised to stay home and not enter a hospital until they've been free of symptoms for two days," the hospital said.

Patients isolated, activities postponed

Hospital officials are taking steps to the keep the illness from spreading. The hospital said these steps include isolating patients with symptoms, postponing group activities and "aggressive" cleaning.

GRH and Region of Waterloo Public Health said it will lift the outbreak once the Freeport Campus has been free of new cases for five days.

The hospital, located in Kitchener, is the largest in Waterloo Region.