LYNNWOOD — Three people from an assisted living facility were sent to area hospitals Tuesday and two others were checked out by paramedics for treatment of viral illnesses.
Lynnwood Fire Department paramedics originally responded to Ageis of LynnÂwood, at 18700 44th Ave. W., to treat a patient who had diarrhea.
When they arrived, they found four more patients who were ill, said Larry Hadland, a Lynnwood paramedic. When seniors have diarrhea they can become easily dehydrated, he said.
The other four patients had upper respiratory infections, “essentially the flu,” said Karen Lucas, an Ageis spokeswoman.
The three patients sent to emergency rooms all went to different hospitals, Stevens Hospital in Edmonds and two Seattle hospitals, Swedish and Northwest.
Forty-four people live at Aegis of Lynnwood. No special measures, such as asking residents to stay in their rooms to avoid getting sick, are needed at this time, Lucas said.
Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, who monitors local viruses at The Everett Clinic, said it’s possible that the patients were sickened by two separate bugs.
While it’s common for viruses to be circulating this time of year, cases of the flu are on the decline. “We’re at the end of influenza season,” he said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
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