Area hospitals monitor flu cases

Area hospitals are seeing increases in flu and flu-like symptoms and are asking that the public limit visitations to patients to help prevent spreading the highly contagious virus.

Jameson Hospital in New Castle, Pa., moved to limit visits after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified regional flu activity throughout Pennsylvania.

Jameson officials said its request for limited visitation extends to all areas of care, including the emergency department and surgical areas.

Jameson is the only area hospital, as of Wednesday afternoon, to officially limit public visitation because of the flu.

Others, such as Forum Health’s Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, routinely urge people with colds, sore throats or contagious diseases to not visit patients, spokeswoman Trish Hreno said.

For more, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com