RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — State health officials say six people died from the flu in North Carolina last week, raising the death toll for the season to 16.
The N.C. Division of Public Health said Thursday four of the six flu victims were ages 65 and older, with the other two in the 50-to-64 age group. Of the total, 12 flu victims were 65 and older.
The flu season officially began Oct. 1 and typically runs through March 31.
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is asking the public ‘to please visit immediate family only if absolutely necessary, not to bring children 12 and under to the hospital, and if you are experiencing the following symptoms, please do not visit anyone in the hospital: fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.’
Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of the flu, UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh and UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough say children aged 11 and under can no longer visit patients. Last month, Cape Fear Valley Health implemented a policy restricting children under age 12 from visiting the hospital.
This article was written with the help of The Associated Press.
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Photo via FirstHealth.
