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Three Dead, Others Hospitalized In Virus Outbreak At Fairfax Retirement Community
Letese’ Clark
Jacob Fenston
This story was updated at 6 p.m. on July 16.
The Fairfax County Health Department is now reporting that three people have died following a respiratory virus outbreak at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Va., and at least 63 people have become ill.
The health department says it doesn’t know how much the outbreak contributed to the three deaths.
Twenty-three of the 263 residents were hospitalized and 19 employees now say they are experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness, the health department says.
Residents in the continuing care neighborhood that have become ill are showing respiratory symptoms ranging from coughing and shortness of breath to pneumonia, according to officials.
“We do not know the specific viral or bacterial cause for the illness,” says Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of epidemiology at the Fairfax County Department of Health, which has been conducting tests to find the cause. Initial tests for common viruses and bacteria have been negative. The county has sent samples to the state health department and the CDC for further testing. The results should be available by midweek next week.
Respiratory outbreaks at assisted living facilities are not uncommon.
“The reason is that older individuals are more susceptible to diseases,” Schwartz said. “They may have other medical conditions that reduce their immunity, and people in these facilities often come in close contact with each other.”
Schwartz says what makes the illnesses unusual is the time of year: Such outbreaks typically take place during the winter and flu season.
In an emailed statement, Greenspring spokesperson Courtney Benhoff said, “Greenspring’s highest priority is the welfare of those who live and work on campus. In keeping with this commitment the community has acted with an abundance of caution, and in partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Health, has taken all necessary measures to fully implement proven infection prevention and control strategies.”
She said the deaths have not been conclusively linked to the respiratory illness.
“It is important to understand that these individuals were of an advanced age, with complex prior medical issues,” Benhoff wrote. “At this time, we can not speculate on the role of respiratory illness in those deaths.”
The facility has taken several steps to reduce the spread of the virus including keeping sick residents in their rooms, increasing cleaning, canceling group activities and closing the facility to new admissions. The continuing care neighborhood is part of the larger Greenspring neighborhood that houses more than 2,000 residents.
This story was updated to reflect the new total of deaths, the number of sick, and include new information about the number of residents at Greenspring.
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