SYDNEY (AFP) — Australian authorities said Friday they were investigating 10 deaths at a care home for the elderly that coincided with outbreaks of gastroenteritis.
Eighty-three residents at the Endeavour Nursing home, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, were struck down in two outbreaks and of them died of "apparently unrelated conditions", the New South Wales health department said.
However, it said inspections had found no trace of food contamination. "NSW Food Authority officers have inspected the facility and found no obvious problem," it said.
"All food handling protocols and practices were found to be of a high standard. Food samples collected from the facility were found not to contain any harmful bacteria."
It said residents were no longer believed to be at risk but an expert panel had been assembled to try to find the cause of the outbreak.
"The peak of the last outbreak was 14 days ago, and the risk of further illness is believed to be low," it said.
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