Flu Cases Are Taxing Local Hospitals

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Birmingham area hospitals are at or over normal patient capacity due in large part to the number of patients presenting with seasonal influenza-like symptoms. Local emergency departments and outpatient clinics are also seeing very high volumes of patients.

The Jefferson County Department of Health and the Birmingham-area medical community issued an official statement urging residents with minor flu or flu-like symptoms to refrain from going to hospital emergency departments to avoid over-stressing the community’s resources.

“Our area hospitals and emergency departments are seeing an influx of patients that are seriously ill," said Dr. Mark Wilson, Jefferson County Health Officer. "If a person has a flu-like illness without signs of serious illness, he or she should remain at home. We recommend that they call their doctor first if they are unsure.”

Patients who do visit an emergency department or outpatient clinic should be aware of long wait times. All local hospitals are taking necessary steps to ensure that patients receive appropriate care. This issue is occurring nation-wide, not just in the Birmingham area. The situation is expected to continue for several days, according to a report from the Jefferson County Department of Health.

The JCDH said this is not a pandemic flu situation, but a major seasonal flu situation. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population will get the flu. On average, about 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year due to flu-related complications. As many as 49,000 people die each year from flu-related illnesses in the U.S.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images