The flu has led to extra precautions being taken at an area hospital. Stephanie Furlow, spokeswoman for Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, explains that the hospital has implemented visitor restrictions in an effort to help protect patients, staff and the community from the spread of influenza.

Furlow says that, until further notice, no more than three visitors may be admitted to a patient’s room at one time. In addition, visitors must also be at least 18-years-old and immediate family members or a significant other, as identified by the patient.

Schneck staff are asking anyone with flu-like symptoms to stay away from hospital patients. These symptoms include:

• Fever and/or chills
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

Furlow adds that all visitors must wash their hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after visiting a patient. She says that hand sanitizer can be found throughout the hospital, as well as outside each patient’s room.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of people with flu-like symptoms in the last few weeks,” said Stacy East, Infection Preventionist at Schneck. East urges you to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible in order to protect themselves for the rest of the season.