Orana in lock down

AN OUTBREAK of Influenza A in a Kingaroy aged care home saw the facility in lockdown for 20 days.

OUTBREAK: Kingaroy's Orana Lutheran Complex aged care facility was in lockdown for 20 days after an outbreak of Influenza A infected residents and staff. Photo: Jordan Philp . Picture: Jordan Philp

AN OUTBREAK of Influenza A in a Kingaroy aged care home saw the facility in lockdown for 20 days.

Orana Lutheran Complex closed their doors for almost three weeks last month in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

Darling Downs Public Health Unit physician Dr Penny Hutchinson said residents and staff had been infected with Influenza A.

"A total of 28 residents and 13 staff contracted flu," she said.

Orana Lutheran Complex general manager Richard Fahy said there had been "quite a number" of flu cases in the facility.

"Enough to warrant us closing the facility as precaution," he said.

Dr Hutchinson said all the correct protocols had been taken to control the outbreak.

"In order to reduce the further spread of influenza throughout the facility it was agreed to place the nursing home into lockdown until the outbreak was declared over," she said.

"Lockdown includes restricting outside visitors, closing the dining room and for residents to remain in their rooms."

The lockdown of the complex comes after initial reports of dramatic spikes of Influenza A and Influenza B in the South Burnett.

"It is not known how the flu came into the nursing home, however there were very high rates of flu in the South Burnett community in August so it is not surprising that flu spread to the facility," Dr Hutchinson said.

"Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to flu and other respiratory conditions so it is extremely important that family members do not visit residents when they are unwell."

Originally published as Orana in lock down