An outbreak of influenza at a Tri-Cities long-term care facility is now over.
Fraser Health has lifted its respiratory illness alert at Hawthorne Seniors Care Community in Port Coquitlam (2111 Hawthorne Ave.) after lasting for nearly two weeks.
The outbreak was first put in place on April 21 after lab-confirmed influenza infections were detected in three residents.
The Tri-City News has reached out to Fraser Health to confirm the final number of cases, and have yet to respond as of this publication (May 5).
We'll update this story with more information as it becomes available.
Hawthorne is owned and operated by the Port Coquitlam Seniors Citizens' Housing Society.
When the respiratory illness outbreak was declared, spokesperson Dixon Tam said Fraser Health worked with staff to implement control measures in an effort to prevent further spread.
This included providing an anti-viral treatment to unaffected residents and to those who are infected "under the direction of their physician," enhanced cleaning and infection-control measures, and limiting visitors between the impacted areas.
Hawthorne is owned and operated by the Port Coquitlam Seniors Citizens' Housing Society.
Prior to this alert, the community endured three outbreaks of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Combined, a total of 49 known cases were detected during the alerts — 31 residents and 18 staff members.
Four Hawthorne residents died due to complications with the virus during the first two outbreaks between Oct. 29 and Dec. 2, 2020, and Nov. 3 and Dec. 9, 2020.
Elsewhere, Ridge Meadows Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital are still under COVID-19 outbreaks.
The source of transmission is in an acute care unit at each Fraser Health facility, dating back to April 14 and 25 respectively.
A respiratory illness outbreak also remains in place for the AgeCare Harmony Court long-term care centre in Burnaby.
