Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Flu fears restrict kids visitors at local hospitals

Fears of spreading the flu bug and other respiratory illnesses has resulted in an order to only allow parents to visit their children in both the Children’s Hospital and the St. Boniface General Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, medical director of the WRHA’s Child Health program, said in a statement the measure is being taken to reduce the chances of sick kids getting sicker.

"We believe we are going to continue to see an increase in these types of cases, which are already resulting in heavy patient volumes and extremely high occupancy rates at both sites," Rockman-Greenberg said today.

"It is important we take whatever steps possible to reduce further spread of the illness."

The WRHA has also restricted visits to only parents in both hospitals’ labour, delivery and post-partum units.

Rockman-Greenberg also said the HSC’s intermediate nursery has been closed to new patients because of a confirmed case of influenza A there. The hospital opened a temporary 14-bed unit for new patients on Thursday.

And the WRHA has already told health officials in Northwestern Ontario to transport any ill babies to hospitals in Eastern Ontario for the time being unless it would cause "a serious risk to the patient."

Meanwhile, the WRHA said five children had to be isolated in the Children’s Hospital after being exposed to chicken pox by a visitor who had not been diagnosed. They will have to be isolated for two weeks.

 

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