A strange respiratory illness has claimed the lives of 9 people and infected 11 individuals, after sweeping from the eldest, frail dweller in a unit of a Victoria extended care facility.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority affirmed an occurrence of the indefinite respiratory infectivity at Glengarry Hospital last Thursday.

People visiting the Fairfield Road facility have been recommended to stay away or be ready to take on particular infection-control measures, like gowning up and wearing masks.

Dr. David Forrest, Associate Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control for the Health Authority stated that five people have yet not recovered while six patients have. They range in age from 81 to 97. Five of those who could not make it were palliative-care patients.

Forrest said that he and his associates are really worried because a high number of deaths are taking place in the region.

He said that tests are being carried out internally as well as at the B. C. Centre for Disease Control, to verify the root of the disease.

It may possibly be an initial viral, cold-like condition, which is made difficult by a bacterial infection such as pneumonia.