Flu Triggers Visitation Restrictions At Charlotte-Area Hospitals

CHARLOTTE, NC — As the flu continues to remain widespread in North Carolina, Charlotte area hospitals are tightening visitation policies, restricting children 12 and younger from visiting patients.

As of Feb. 2, 35 people have died in the state as a result of the flu, according to North Carolina health officials.

“There are a lot of people sick with the flu in our area right now,” Atrium Health said in a statement announcing the new visitation policy. “Because children are more likely to be sick and not know it, we are not allowing children 12 and under to visit patients in our hospitals.”

Atrium Health also asks that visitors not come to hospitals if they could possibly be sick, especially if they have fever; headaches, body aches or pain; cough or a sore throat; stuffy or runny nose or chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

“If there is a special reason a child or someone who might be sick really needs to visit a hospital patient, please check with the patient’s nurse before coming,” Atrium Health said. “There are a few strict exceptions, e.g. impending death of a parent or other close relative. It is in the best interest of our patients if children do not visit. If there are no other options, visitors 12 and under are allowed in the waiting rooms and cafeteria with a supervised adult.”

Here is a list of hospitals affected by the restricted visitation policy:

• Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center
• Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital
• Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute
• Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy
• Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast
• Carolinas HealthCare System Stanly
• Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge
• Atrium Health Anson
• Atrium Health Pineville
• Atrium Health Union
• Atrium Health University City
• Atrium Health Lincoln
• Atrium Health Cleveland
• Atrium Health Kings Mountain
• Atrium Health Pineville Rehabilitation Hospital
• Carolinas Rehabilitation-Charlotte
• Carolinas Rehabilitation-NorthEast
• Carolinas Rehabilitation-Mt. Holly
• Carolinas HealthCare System Behavioral Health-Charlotte
• Carolinas HealthCare System Behavioral Health-Davidson

The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) continues to be the predominant strain in most of the country while the H3N2 virus has predominated in the Southeast. FDA Director Scott Gottlieb has said that the H1N1 strain tends to peak late in the season but that the vaccine has a 60 percent effectiveness or more against it.

Early estimates from the CDC found that by mid-November 2018, 45.6 percent of children aged between 6 months to 17 years old had been vaccinated against the flu, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to early estimates from the previous season. For adults 18 and older, the CDC’s estimates showed that by mid-November, 44.9 percent had been vaccinated against the flu, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to early estimates from the previous season.

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. If you think you have the flu, call or visit your doctor.

In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antivirals such as Tamiflu or Relenza. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick.
Antivirals are used to treat those at high risk for flu complications — young children, the elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions and women who are pregnant. Most otherwise-healthy people who get the flu, however, do not need to be treated with antiviral drugs.

Here’s a list of ways to help prevent the flu:

• Frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and warm water.
• Alcohol-based gels are the next best thing if you don't have access to soap and water.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of the flu. Use a tissue or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm.

• Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
• If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible. If you have more than one bathroom, have the sick person use one and well people use the other. Clean the sick room and the bathroom once a day with household disinfectant. Thoroughly clean linens, eating utensils, and dishes used by the sick person before reusing.
• To learn more about influenza log on to www.flu.gov.

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