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Dozens Sickened At Retirement Community

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: February 14, 2009

HUDSON - A Hudson retirement community is discouraging visitors and taking other steps because of a recent outbreak of what appears to be a stomach bug.

About 30 of the roughly 170 residents at Atria Windsor Woods in Hudson came down with the mystery ailment, Amy Schuster reports as director of public relations for the Atria Senior Living Group, based at the corporate office in Louisville, Ky.

The number of stricken residents had declined to about seven by midweek, Schuster said.

Even so, Atria said it is taking precautions until laboratory tests can better pinpoint the cause of the ailment.

"Our No. 1 priority is the health and well-being of our residents and employees," Schuster said in a statement. "We are working closely with the Health Department and are following appropriate measures to contain the symptoms, including suspension of all communal dining and activities, personal meal delivery to all residents in their rooms and discouragement of any outside visitors.

"We are closely monitoring all residents to ensure everyone's needs are met, and are working toward a speedy recovery for everyone."

Pasco County Health Department received a courtesy call from the retirement community, said Deanna Krautner, the health education and communications coordinator for the public health agency.

Intestinal outbreaks such as this don't have to be reported to health authorities, Krautner said, and any sharing of laboratory test results will be at Atria's discretion.

Lab results were not available.

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