Horror flu outbreak sends nursing home into lockdown

A nursing home in southern New South Wales is in lockdown following a flu outbreak which has left four people dead.

Fifteen residents of the Marco Polo Aged Care Services in Unanderra, south-west of Wollongong, had flu symptoms following the June long weekend.

Five of the 15 were sent to hospital, with four of the five passing away. One of the residents who battled the flu and recovered died from natural causes.

The public health unit has been notified of the outbreak, with affected residents isolated in one building in the centre so the illness didn’t spread.

Twenty staff members from the aged care home have also been off sick with flu symptoms.

Marco Polo Aged Care Services manager Robert O’Shea told the ABC families have been informed about the outbreak and have been urged not to visit.

“We are managing this in consultation with the public health unit, which we are required to do,” Mr O’Shea said.

The socialisation of residents has been limited with visitors given masks.

The public health unit is expecting to give the centre the all clear by Friday.

More than 57 people have died from influenza in NSW this year and doctors are urging members of the public to get vaccinated to minimise risk to themselves and others.