Posted on 01/02/2015 7:44:02 PM PST by george76
Hospitals and medical centers in western Colorado are limiting visitors because of a serious flu outbreak.
...
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center's community living center still is not accepting visitors after 11 patients showed signs of having the flu. All of those patients will remain in isolation until two or three days after the last one recovers.
The Centers for Disease Control said influenza has reached epidemic proportions. There have been 15 pediatric deaths nationwide
(Excerpt) Read more at ksl.com ...
Ditto here in Eastern Kansas. St. Luke’s South is turning away people. Scary.
enterovirus D68 ?
I try to avoid hospitals.
There are sick people in there!
They just say “flu.”
This is very common. This time of year and with the ineffectiveness of the vaccine, hospitals are not screwing around.
The scary thing is that even if you get the ‘flu’, you never really know which particular strain it was. It usually isn’t the one the vaccine was for.
“Anyone who is sick is encouraged not to visit patients at St. Mary’s Hospital, and no visitors younger than 18 will be allowed in the Emergency Department or patient rooms. People who show signs of being ill are being asked to wear a mask while in the hospital.”
Common sense.
When out in public, watch out to minimize touching things touched by others. Wash hands frequently. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. A body condom may help.
“Common sense.”
Same for Nursing Homes
Same here in northern Virginia. Some hospitals are limiting visiting hours and restricting visits to those over 15 years old.
Flu ping....
Old news here in Wisconsin.
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
My memory is that in the 50s, 60s and 70s those under 16 could not visit patients in hospitals.
You do if they administer an RIDT and it gives a correct result.
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are screening tests for influenza virus infection.RIDTs differ in some important respects:
Some can identify influenza A and B viruses and distinguish between them. Some can identify influenza A and B viruses but cannot distinguish between them. Some tests are waived from requirements under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). Most tests can be used with a variety of specimen types (see Influenza Diagnostic Table), but the accuracy of the tests can vary based on the type of specimen collected (for example throat swab versus nasal swab).
I believe, but could be wrong, that a viral cell culture is required to distinguish subtypes.
How many people, upon acquiring the flu, get an RIDT ?
The sickest I have ever been was when an idiot relative brought over her four year old child and said. “She was really sick yesterday but she is ok today”. Well she wasn't ok, she had the flu and it nearly killed me!
My husband got the flu shot this year, as he has done every year for at least twelve years or so. I’m hoping that he won’t get sick.
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