http://www.10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4585684&nav=LUESMuat
Fairfield <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1
LACENAME>Medical</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACETYPE>Center</ST1LACETYPE> is urging visitors to stay away from the facility as much as possible due to an influenza outbreak in the community.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O></O>
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All patients and visitors with respirator problems or flu-like symptoms who do enter the hospital are being asked to wear surgical masks while in the hospital.<O></O>
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Fairfield Medical is also advising against any visitors under the age of 18 to help combat the spread of the virus.<O></O>
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The guidelines are in place because the hospital says it is seeing a significant increase of patients with the flu at a time when flu season usually starts to wind down.<O></O>
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The hospital diagnosed 50 people with the flu last week, according to officials there. One emergency room physician said he diagnosed six more cases on Friday.<O></O>
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Dr. Russell Rudy also stressed the importance of usual precautions such as hand washing to help minimize the spread of the flu.<O></O>
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Hospital spokesman David Vickham said people were certainly not being told they cannot seek treatment there. They are simply being advised to take some precautions for their own good when they are there.<O></O>
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In February, Fairfield Medical recorded 123 cases influenza according to hospital officials. That is nearly four times the number of cases in January.
Fairfield <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1
LACENAME>Medical</ST1LACENAME> <ST1LACETYPE>Center</ST1LACETYPE> is urging visitors to stay away from the facility as much as possible due to an influenza outbreak in the community.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O></O><O
> </O>All patients and visitors with respirator problems or flu-like symptoms who do enter the hospital are being asked to wear surgical masks while in the hospital.<O
></O><O
> </O>Fairfield Medical is also advising against any visitors under the age of 18 to help combat the spread of the virus.<O
></O><O
> </O>The guidelines are in place because the hospital says it is seeing a significant increase of patients with the flu at a time when flu season usually starts to wind down.<O
></O><O
> </O>The hospital diagnosed 50 people with the flu last week, according to officials there. One emergency room physician said he diagnosed six more cases on Friday.<O
></O><O
> </O>Dr. Russell Rudy also stressed the importance of usual precautions such as hand washing to help minimize the spread of the flu.<O
></O><O
> </O>Hospital spokesman David Vickham said people were certainly not being told they cannot seek treatment there. They are simply being advised to take some precautions for their own good when they are there.<O
></O><O
> </O>In February, Fairfield Medical recorded 123 cases influenza according to hospital officials. That is nearly four times the number of cases in January.