Four elderly nursing home residents passed away in the same week following the outbreak of a "respiratory illness" last month. The residents who were all said to have underlying medical conditions but the time-span of their deaths prompted an investigation.

So far, it is not known what triggered the outbreak at the home. The Health Protection Agency is working with the owners of the nursing home. A spokeswoman for the facility stated, “We have been informed that the first round of samples which were taken on Friday from residents and staff currently at the facility have all tested negative."

Yesterday, microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said he believed that influenza was the "prime suspect".
However, he said that would be surprising because flu season had already passed. For more, read the story.

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Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a Virginia attorney whose law practice is dedicated to protecting the rights of the victims of nursing home and assisted living neglect and abuse in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.