Local hospitals impose restrictions on visitors in effort to fight flu

MENDOCINO CO., 1/8/17 — The new year is off to a sickly start with a particularly strong strain of influenza filling local hospitals and causing at least 27 deaths statewide since October, in people under the age of 65. In response several local hospitals are implementing preventative measures to slow the spread of the flu, by placing some restrictions on who can visit patients in the hospital.

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits and the Mendocino Coast District Hospital in Fort Bragg have both asked that young visitors, and anyone showing flu-like symptoms refrain from visiting the hospital, or patients. However, now does not include people seeking care, or coming to the hospital because they are sick, just people visiting other people in the hospitals.