Flu spike prompts hospital restrictions

Allina Health will restrict visitor access at its hospitals starting Tuesday to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients catching the flu after an announcement by state health officials that the virus is active across much of Minnesota.

The precautionary step occurs whenever the Minnesota Health Department declares that influenza is widespread across the state, said Allina spokesman Tim Burke. The department made that announcement late last week as part of its weekly tracking of the flu, which so far has been relatively mild in Minnesota.

http://www.startribune.com/flu-spike-prompts-hospital-restrictions/412205513/