CHICAGO (AP) — With winter about half over, Illinois' public health department is reporting widespread flu activity.
Many hospitals are seeing an increase in cases they
say is typical for early February.
There have been 33 flu-linked intensive care cases
in Chicago since October, including 13 late last month and most in adults.
Starting this week at Chicago's Rush University
Medical Center, all visitors are being screened and those with flu symptoms told
to go home. Those without get a yellow sticker to wear during their visit.
At Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood,
visitors with a cough are asked to wear masks. So are hospital employees exempt
from a mandatory flu shot policy there. Dr. Jorge Parada says that's usual
policy during flu season.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
