SIX elderly people have died at a care home in Bury.

Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed that six residents of Elizabeth House in Walshaw Road, have died in the past week.

PHE said that three of the six people tested positive for pneumococcal infections, while the other three people tested positive for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

Staff at the care home’s parent company Churchlake Care Ltd previously expressed their condolences to the relatives of those who have died.

PHE staff have also offered their sincere condolences.

In a statement issued this afternoon, PHE said: “Out of the six deaths, three were in residents who tested positive for pneumococcal infections and the remaining three were in residents who tested positive for RSV, or for whom no positive laboratory test for infection was reported. We offer our sincere condolences to their families."

At the time of the Care Quality Commission's (CQC's) last visit to Elizabeth House in November 2018, there were 16 people living there.

Following the deaths, Public Health staff said that, as a preventative measure, antibiotics and vaccinations may be given to the other residents living at the care home.

Representatives of Public Health England, Bury Council and Elizabeth House attended a health meeting today.

PHE said: “Working closely with Bury Council and the care home we will be offering preventive antibiotics and possibly vaccination to those living in the care home as a precaution in accordance with national guidance.

“Meningitis or other severe disease caused by the pneumococcal bacteria is extremely rare. However, everyone should be aware of the symptoms to look out for and of the need to take urgent action whenever a case is suspected.

“The bacteria which cause pneumococcal infections can be spread by close contact with someone who is carrying the bacteria when that person coughs or sneezes. They can also be spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person, such as used paper tissues.

“Some people can carry the bacteria in the backs of their noses and throats without ever becoming ill while others can go on to develop a pneumococcal infection.

"It is not known why it only affects some people but it is known that some groups of people are more at risk than others of developing it.”

The groups of people who are more prone to developing an infection include: the very young of the very old, people with a chronic illness such as diseases of the heart, lung, kidneys or liver, people without a spleen or with a damaged spleen, and people whose immune system is not working properly.