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Two residents of a retirement home in the far west of Ottawa have died after an outbreak of Listeria, the source of which has not been identified.
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Ottawa Public Health confirmed the deaths of two residents in the City View Retirement Community, as well as two other non-fatal infections during a Listeria outbreak that began at home last month.
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial disease that can be very serious for the elderly.
Catherine Clausi, a spokeswoman for Meadowlands Drive, said she had worked with Ottawa Public Health and the regional infection prevention and control team to determine the source of the list, but was unable to do so.
“Despite a month of investigation into the outbreak with Ottawa Public Health, no known source was identified,” he said.
He added that the house “buys all its food” through reliable suppliers and requires staff to follow all food storage and handling procedures.
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“Our hearts go out to residents and families and (hopefully) the latest case reported in mid-May will be the last and the outbreak will be resolved.”
Ottawa Public Health said high-risk foods, such as cold cuts and ready-made cheeses, had been suspended at home since May 4. There is ongoing research, with the support of Public Health Ontario, Public Health Ontario Laboratories and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. OPH said it is in daily communication with the home.
Ottawa Public Health has sent food samples and environmental swab samples to Ontario Public Health Laboratories. It takes about two weeks to get the final results from the lab.
Ottawa Public Health is responsible for assisting institutions with the management of outbreaks, but the institutions themselves are responsible for communications.